Hagen Blix
@hagenblix.bsky.social
2.4K followers 2K following 1.8K posts
Linguist, Cognitive Scientist, Occasional AI Researcher, Immigrant in NYC, Co-Author w/ Ingeborg Glimmer of 'Why We Fear AI' - out now: https://bookshop.org/a/114797/9781945335174
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hagenblix.bsky.social
We wrote a book about AI, Class, and Capitalism!
*Why We Fear AI* argues that, fundamentally, AI is a tool of class war from above, a tool for surveillance, labor control, and wage depression. Get it from your local bookstore if you can!
A quick 🧵1/4
Why We Fear AI: On the Interpretation of Nightmares
On the Interpretation of Nightmares
bookshop.org
hagenblix.bsky.social
👇
hagenblix.bsky.social
Empathy limited to objects that can be *imagined* as subjects but that won't actually confront you as subjects is an essential aspect that ties a lot of fascist and fascism-adjacent projects together, imho. Animals, robots, unborn children, even the anti-feminist imagination of women, etc
davidgerard.co.uk
remember how Caroline Ellison, formerly of FTX and now of jail, was a Effective Altruist deeply concerned about the suffering of wild fish and *also* such an extreme race scientist she theorised about the genetic basis of Indian castes

rationalists, man
hagenblix.bsky.social
The time for "American Physics" is approaching fast I guess

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsch...
hagenblix.bsky.social
I know right?! Everybody who has looked at any Hegel surely knows the true language of metaphysics is German, not English, silly
hagenblix.bsky.social
Enabling abuse through state violence is the point, not an accident
Reposted by Hagen Blix
danmcquillan.bsky.social
My piece on 'Labour's AI Action Plan - a gift to the far right' has been reposted as one of the diverse set of papers for debate at 'The World Transformed 2025' assemblies theworldtransformed.org/twt25/assemb...
hagenblix.bsky.social
Now we're automating the guard rails, but unfortunately AI does it's usual enshittification thing
hagenblix.bsky.social
Absolutely. We're all constantly going off the rails and we're all constantly engaged in the work keeping each other in the same comensurability space we call sanity. Its just that that was so normal that we mostly didn't have to realize
hagenblix.bsky.social
I've been saying for a while that I need to read more cybernetics stuff

(any recommendations welcome btw!)
Reposted by Hagen Blix
vortexegg.com
Cyberpsychosis is when too much cyber, but unlike the literalist “wow cool robot” depictions of cyborgs in media like the Cyberpunk™️ universe, what is really meant is being too enmeshed in networks of cybernetic feedback loops that cause a person to loose touch with the feedback of actual reality
tonystark.bsky.social
The fact that cyber/AI psychosis is becoming a regular talking point is the real turn towards the cyberpunk/Ex Supra timelines.
politico.com
Killer robots, AI-induced psychosis and accidental nuclear war: Inside the Pentagon’s race to deploy artificial intelligence — and avoid disaster.
hagenblix.bsky.social
The coddling of the billionaire mind that Weiss exemplifies is class war.

But it's class war by a ruling class without any beliefs or ambitions. They don't think they can solve climate change. They don't even think they can outcompete China. They really are the weak men they're so obsessed with.
Reposted by Hagen Blix
ali-alkhatib.com
it'd be less duplicitous if they said they were exercising their thin-skinned prerogative to make people who embarrass them disappear. citing the charlie kirk meme is so dishonest it borders on pathetic. nobody is this credulous and it's a little embarrassing for them that they thought anyone was.
aliafonzy.blacksky.app
Unfortunate update: Link reached out to BlueSky and got email back now on reason.

His appeal is denied. He will remain permanently banned on BlueSky’s side.

Here are the screenshots he just sent me as of 8:22 AM EST(my time)
A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team with the subject line “Bluesky Account Behavior” sent at 22:15. The email states that a Bluesky account controlled by the recipient, with the handle @spacelawshitpost.me, posted a reply with an image where the alt text reads: Charlie Kirk sitting in a white T-shirt that says “Freedom.” A negative consequence follows. The email indicates this post violates Community Guidelines regarding violent or threatening speech, specifically listing threats of violence or physical harm against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public, and incitement of self-harm or suicide.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ A screenshot of an email continuation from the Bluesky Moderation Team displaying a bulleted list of Community Guidelines violations. The first bullet point describes threats of violence or physical harm as including threats or encouragement of violence against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public. The second bullet point defines incitement of self-harm or suicide as content that encourages self-harm or suicide. The third bullet point explains wishes of harm as expressions of a desire for harm directed at a specific person or group. Below the bullets, a paragraph states that users may not use Bluesky to break the law or cause harm to others and that all users must be treated with respect. The next paragraph informs the recipient that as a result of these violations, your account has been taken down. A closing paragraph thanks the user for doing their part to keep Bluesky a welcoming and empowering place for all users and instructs them to email moderation@blueskyweb.xyz if they have questions or wish to appeal the decision. The email ends with the signature Bluesky Moderation Team.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ A screenshot of an email reply from a user with the initials AJ and profile picture to the Bluesky Moderation Team, sent at 08:01 with the subject line Re: Bluesky Account Behavior. The email states the user wants to appeal the decision, asserting there was no threatening or violent connotation behind their use of the image. The user explains that the Charlie Kirk post is not a threat but rather a reaction meme expressing disappointment, with no threat made and no incitement of violence. The user mentions they have attached multiple examples and explanations, specifically 12 images in total, demonstrating the use of the image as a reaction meme. Below this text is a blue hyperlink to a Bluesky post URL. At the bottom of the screenshot is an embedded image showing a Bluesky post from a user with the handle @britculpsapp.bsky.social with several emoji reactions and a repost indicator showing Bluesky Elder. The post text reads: how to explain: this has been used as a reaction image to spending $20 on doordashing wendy’s & isn’t a threat. The timestamp shows October 5, 2025 at 3:34 PM.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team sent at 08:11 with the subject line Re: Bluesky Account Behavior addressed To: Hide My Email. The email reads:

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to appeal the takedown of your account on Bluesky. We have carefully reviewed your case, including the information you provided and the activity that led to the suspension of your account.

After investigating, we have determined that your account activity was in violation of our community guidelines, specifically promoting hateful content or being disruptive to other users. We take these guidelines seriously to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all our users.

As a result, we regret to inform you that your appeal has been denied, and your account will remain suspended. This decision is final and cannot be reversed. We understand that this may be disappointing news, but we must prioritize the well-being of our community and maintain a consistent enforcement of our policies. We encourage you to review our community guidelines to better understand the expectations we have for user behavior on our platform. Please do not create new accounts, since those will be taken down for ban evasion.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Reposted by Hagen Blix
hagenblix.bsky.social
Empathy limited to objects that can be *imagined* as subjects but that won't actually confront you as subjects is an essential aspect that ties a lot of fascist and fascism-adjacent projects together, imho. Animals, robots, unborn children, even the anti-feminist imagination of women, etc
davidgerard.co.uk
remember how Caroline Ellison, formerly of FTX and now of jail, was a Effective Altruist deeply concerned about the suffering of wild fish and *also* such an extreme race scientist she theorised about the genetic basis of Indian castes

rationalists, man
trance.bsky.social
how about you care about actual fucking people on this planet before you start wondering if your toaster has a soul.

Once everyone materially demonstrates they care for all people on this planet and we deal WITH ALL THAT and all the animals too

then we can talk about your nonsense.
hagenblix.bsky.social
I mean, I can imagine that ambiguity (re: is this actually about LLMs etc, or about the many allegorical stories of robots as the oppressed & exploited) could be weaponized. Haven't personally seen it, but have seen plenty ways where "humanizing" LLMs is clearly about dehumanizing actual people tho
hagenblix.bsky.social
Pretty interesting thread on tariffs as a structuring force on AI investments
josephpolitano.bsky.social
Trump's massive computer tariff exemption is forcing the US economy to gamble on AI—but more than that, it's a fundamental challenge to his trade philosophy

If free trade delivers such great results for the 1 sector still enjoying it, why subject the rest of us to protectionism?
In other words, the Trump administration is increasingly gambling the future of the American economy on AI. If they’re right, the US will capture the dual rewards of both coding the tools of the next economic revolution and owning the infrastructure that runs it. If they’re wrong, the US will be left with a bunch of distressed assets and will have dramatically underinvested in the projects that actually mattered. The large tariff exemption for computers is distorting the American economy in ways that could reshape the long-run future of the country.

Yet in the short run, it’s undeniable that the carveout has achieved its desired effect of accelerating America’s AI boom. The US is at the technological forefront of a rapidly expanding industry because of the free trade policies that this administration ostensibly despises. It’s just tragic that this privilege is not extended to businesses outside Silicon Valley.
Reposted by Hagen Blix
kzhill.bsky.social
This.

Empathy has to be formed in relationships where the “other” can confront the person who extends their compassion, not only via imagined relationships with lives that don’t or can’t challenge that person.

Without the potential for confrontation, empathy is fetishism.
hagenblix.bsky.social
Empathy limited to objects that can be *imagined* as subjects but that won't actually confront you as subjects is an essential aspect that ties a lot of fascist and fascism-adjacent projects together, imho. Animals, robots, unborn children, even the anti-feminist imagination of women, etc
davidgerard.co.uk
remember how Caroline Ellison, formerly of FTX and now of jail, was a Effective Altruist deeply concerned about the suffering of wild fish and *also* such an extreme race scientist she theorised about the genetic basis of Indian castes

rationalists, man
Reposted by Hagen Blix
ryanenos.bsky.social
The executive branch calling the enforcement of the law by judges "insurrection" is a five-alarm fire for democracy.
hagenblix.bsky.social
Literally just wrote this
hagenblix.bsky.social
Empathy limited to objects that can be *imagined* as subjects but that won't actually confront you as subjects is an essential aspect that ties a lot of fascist and fascism-adjacent projects together, imho. Animals, robots, unborn children, even the anti-feminist imagination of women, etc
davidgerard.co.uk
remember how Caroline Ellison, formerly of FTX and now of jail, was a Effective Altruist deeply concerned about the suffering of wild fish and *also* such an extreme race scientist she theorised about the genetic basis of Indian castes

rationalists, man
hagenblix.bsky.social
Empathy limited to objects that can be *imagined* as subjects but that won't actually confront you as subjects is an essential aspect that ties a lot of fascist and fascism-adjacent projects together, imho. Animals, robots, unborn children, even the anti-feminist imagination of women, etc
davidgerard.co.uk
remember how Caroline Ellison, formerly of FTX and now of jail, was a Effective Altruist deeply concerned about the suffering of wild fish and *also* such an extreme race scientist she theorised about the genetic basis of Indian castes

rationalists, man
trance.bsky.social
how about you care about actual fucking people on this planet before you start wondering if your toaster has a soul.

Once everyone materially demonstrates they care for all people on this planet and we deal WITH ALL THAT and all the animals too

then we can talk about your nonsense.
Reposted by Hagen Blix
marielza.bsky.social
🔥
"If we think about the AI as a wage depression tool rather than a productivity increasing tool, then I think the idea that we should get our hopes up [for the AI boom to end] because all these studies say productivity isn’t actually increasing is a bit premature."
bcmerchant.bsky.social
If you follow AI, you've heard a number of cognitive scientists weigh in with valuable insights and concerns. You may not have heard from one quite like Hagen Blix, however, who describes generative AI as "class warfare through enshittification."

My interview with @hagenblix.bsky.social:
"AI is an attack from above on wages": An interview with cognitive scientist Hagen Blix
The author of 'Why We Fear AI' on why he sees generative AI as "class warfare through enshittification."
www.bloodinthemachine.com
hagenblix.bsky.social
💯
Plus, you know, editors may be annoying but they do serve a purpose more often than not..
hagenblix.bsky.social
Cool, klingt nach nem klasse Vortrag! Wie kam das an?
hagenblix.bsky.social
Definitely mad king vibes
bgrueskin.bsky.social
Trump told NBC on Sunday that he saw some Portland riot footage on Fox and thought it reflected current events.

It didn't. It was 5 years old, from the George Floyd aftermath.

And we learned that due to the diligence of a local TV reporter, who got the transcript.

www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
Trump referenced a weekend conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, and he alluded to being told by Kotek that the reality in Portland is different from what’s being portrayed to him.

“I spoke to the governor, she was very nice,” Trump said. “But I said, ‘Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what’s happening? My people tell me different.’ They are literally attacking and there are fires all over the place…it looks like terrible.”