Joshua Grochow
@joshuagrochow.bsky.social
Research: TheoryCompSci, pure math, complex systems
Other: climate; covid; equity, inclusion, & accessibility
Assoc. Prof. @ CU Boulder Comp. Sci. & Math
Views my own
@[email protected] (& prev twitter)
https://home.cs.colorado.edu/~jgrochow
Other: climate; covid; equity, inclusion, & accessibility
Assoc. Prof. @ CU Boulder Comp. Sci. & Math
Views my own
@[email protected] (& prev twitter)
https://home.cs.colorado.edu/~jgrochow
Pinned
Joshua Grochow
@joshuagrochow.bsky.social
· Oct 25
![Slide title: Thank You for Hosting Remote Talks
Body of slide:
Many researchers cannot travel because of:
- Visa issues
- Disability
- Personal or family health issues
- Money - personal, university, country
- Family responsibilities
- Work responsibilities
- (Climate change & environmental cost)
[Highlighted] Remote events help tie us to the community!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:pa7qh66jfhgfev77jyz7fogh/bafkreigtkcvtgnwuy7kiqtpazfm6ea67mdhuka6tvecrmbazoc4d6v3gna@jpeg)
New (*draft) slide just dropped, that I want to include at the start of all my online talks. Thoughts or feedback?
#MathSky #AcademicSky
#MathSky #AcademicSky
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
Every prompt to chatbot software is “generate me some text.” If it generated you some text, it performed its function correctly. It never lies, it never wants anything, it’s text generating software that generates text.
Not wanting to disappoint you so much that it lies is the last quality I want in a computer.
November 28, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Every prompt to chatbot software is “generate me some text.” If it generated you some text, it performed its function correctly. It never lies, it never wants anything, it’s text generating software that generates text.
"I can simply trust [the table]. I can turn around and turn back, and even with my eyes on something else, I can reach for it and know it will be there, exactly where I left it.
"Screens, of course, lack any such sameness or stability." [email protected]
aworkinglibrary.com/writing/thin...
"Screens, of course, lack any such sameness or stability." [email protected]
aworkinglibrary.com/writing/thin...
Thingness
A politics of refusal must be more than a closed door.
aworkinglibrary.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:15 AM
"I can simply trust [the table]. I can turn around and turn back, and even with my eyes on something else, I can reach for it and know it will be there, exactly where I left it.
"Screens, of course, lack any such sameness or stability." [email protected]
aworkinglibrary.com/writing/thin...
"Screens, of course, lack any such sameness or stability." [email protected]
aworkinglibrary.com/writing/thin...
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
It's that time of year again... time for #DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship applications! I'm so excited to be running this program for the sixth year and seeing the growth over the years!
Mentee form: forms.gle/um5DvYnBi3tn...
Mentor form: forms.gle/BvaxnQm8uhUR...
Applications due December 5th!
Mentee form: forms.gle/um5DvYnBi3tn...
Mentor form: forms.gle/BvaxnQm8uhUR...
Applications due December 5th!
October 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
It's that time of year again... time for #DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship applications! I'm so excited to be running this program for the sixth year and seeing the growth over the years!
Mentee form: forms.gle/um5DvYnBi3tn...
Mentor form: forms.gle/BvaxnQm8uhUR...
Applications due December 5th!
Mentee form: forms.gle/um5DvYnBi3tn...
Mentor form: forms.gle/BvaxnQm8uhUR...
Applications due December 5th!
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
2. We are developing a policy for AI-related work. We need a formal policy on AI-generated and LLM-assisted content. We have formed a committee of volunteers from our social science and library science networks to gather existing policies and decide what to do.
/5
/5
November 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
2. We are developing a policy for AI-related work. We need a formal policy on AI-generated and LLM-assisted content. We have formed a committee of volunteers from our social science and library science networks to gather existing policies and decide what to do.
/5
/5
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
Per Austrin, Johan H{\aa}stad, Bj\"orn Martinsson
On the Usefulness of Promises
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21450
On the Usefulness of Promises
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21450
November 27, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Per Austrin, Johan H{\aa}stad, Bj\"orn Martinsson
On the Usefulness of Promises
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21450
On the Usefulness of Promises
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21450
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
Your site's users need enough time to interact with content and fill out forms. People with disabilities such as blindness, low vision, dexterity impairments, and cognitive disabilities might need more time for things such as forms. Allow users to turn off or extend time limits.
November 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Your site's users need enough time to interact with content and fill out forms. People with disabilities such as blindness, low vision, dexterity impairments, and cognitive disabilities might need more time for things such as forms. Allow users to turn off or extend time limits.
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
When I search bsky for "MIT study finds AI" here's what I get:
November 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
When I search bsky for "MIT study finds AI" here's what I get:
"MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce" (CNBC article).
That's not what the study did. What it did was *assume* that AI can replace certain jobs *because commercially available products are being used for tasks from those jobs*.
From the study: iceberg.mit.edu/report.pdf
That's not what the study did. What it did was *assume* that AI can replace certain jobs *because commercially available products are being used for tasks from those jobs*.
From the study: iceberg.mit.edu/report.pdf
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
"MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce" (CNBC article).
That's not what the study did. What it did was *assume* that AI can replace certain jobs *because commercially available products are being used for tasks from those jobs*.
From the study: iceberg.mit.edu/report.pdf
That's not what the study did. What it did was *assume* that AI can replace certain jobs *because commercially available products are being used for tasks from those jobs*.
From the study: iceberg.mit.edu/report.pdf
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
My phone is doing all the same things from 2015 with only minimal benefits. The only reason we have to upgrade is increased software bloat.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/h... "please, buy new phone. the economy is dying" is an incredible gaslight
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever and it's costing economy
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever before, and while it may be consumer smart, it comes at a cost to work productivity and the U.S. economy.
www.cnbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
My phone is doing all the same things from 2015 with only minimal benefits. The only reason we have to upgrade is increased software bloat.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
ICALP/PODC/SPAA 2026 on 6–10 July, 2026
icalppodcspaa2026.cs.rhul.ac.uk
icalppodcspaa2026.cs.rhul.ac.uk
ICALP/PODC/SPAA 2026
icalppodcspaa2026.cs.rhul.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 AM
ICALP/PODC/SPAA 2026 on 6–10 July, 2026
icalppodcspaa2026.cs.rhul.ac.uk
icalppodcspaa2026.cs.rhul.ac.uk
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
even when AI is surveying reputable sources, we shouldn't forget that summarizing and synthesizing are interpretive activities that involve selecting what is most significant or salient to ongoing discussions. even if AI were unbiased, this is creative work that we should be doing.
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 AM
even when AI is surveying reputable sources, we shouldn't forget that summarizing and synthesizing are interpretive activities that involve selecting what is most significant or salient to ongoing discussions. even if AI were unbiased, this is creative work that we should be doing.
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
This is Sophie. Sophie creates the most AMAZING wildlife art (you really need to follow her). Sophie has a message for us, and I think you should listen to Sophie.
Please share this long, rambling disjointed message far and wide so we can all stick it to the man and not let AI take over the creative world. ❤️
November 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This is Sophie. Sophie creates the most AMAZING wildlife art (you really need to follow her). Sophie has a message for us, and I think you should listen to Sophie.
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
This is what bothers me so much, the assumption that Linux is "so hard to learn!"
Imagine a Windows XP interface.
No ads.
No "OneDrive" popups.
No Copilot getting between you and the cursor.
That's what using many Linux distros is like now!
I'm a professional in the area of helping...
Imagine a Windows XP interface.
No ads.
No "OneDrive" popups.
No Copilot getting between you and the cursor.
That's what using many Linux distros is like now!
I'm a professional in the area of helping...
Am lazy about new learning curve. I've used Windows & Apple OS since the '90s. My corporate days are over & no longer need power or speed, just predictability & flexibility. I hate hidden defaults or being spoon fed.
Today, my computer needs are more like a sturdy, predictable stick shift Jeep.
Today, my computer needs are more like a sturdy, predictable stick shift Jeep.
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
This is what bothers me so much, the assumption that Linux is "so hard to learn!"
Imagine a Windows XP interface.
No ads.
No "OneDrive" popups.
No Copilot getting between you and the cursor.
That's what using many Linux distros is like now!
I'm a professional in the area of helping...
Imagine a Windows XP interface.
No ads.
No "OneDrive" popups.
No Copilot getting between you and the cursor.
That's what using many Linux distros is like now!
I'm a professional in the area of helping...
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
So I was invited to accept an award for "imagination in service to society." This forced me to think a bit about what "imagination," "service" and "society" mean to me.
Here's the speech I delivered last night:
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
Here's the speech I delivered last night:
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
"The Enemy of Imagination": Here's the Speech I Gave Last Night
I had such an incredible day yesterday, y’all. First I was at the Trans Day of Literature at George Mason University, talking with incredible authors...
buttondown.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:49 PM
So I was invited to accept an award for "imagination in service to society." This forced me to think a bit about what "imagination," "service" and "society" mean to me.
Here's the speech I delivered last night:
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
Here's the speech I delivered last night:
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
ArXiv quant-ph needs to be split up! Paul Ginsparg lists Daniel Gottesman's proposed subcategories at his @aspenphysics.bsky.social talk. He is looking for feedback: please reply, dm, or email.
February 13, 2025 at 11:52 PM
ArXiv quant-ph needs to be split up! Paul Ginsparg lists Daniel Gottesman's proposed subcategories at his @aspenphysics.bsky.social talk. He is looking for feedback: please reply, dm, or email.
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
When you buy a digital item in a game, you're not actually buying it. You're licensing it, and the company can change the terms whenever it wants. A law professor and gamer explains how gamers lost $2 billion on Counter-Strike 2 digital products. buff.ly/BoykS4H
$2B Counter-Strike 2 crash exposes a legal black hole: Your digital investments aren’t really yours
An overnight update to Counter-Strike 2 erased billions of dollars in valuable digital assets that players had accumulated. The law gives them almost no recourse.
theconversation.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:28 AM
When you buy a digital item in a game, you're not actually buying it. You're licensing it, and the company can change the terms whenever it wants. A law professor and gamer explains how gamers lost $2 billion on Counter-Strike 2 digital products. buff.ly/BoykS4H
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
Looking for inspiration for your #FOCS2025 pre-recorded talk? Check out this video youtu.be/Ygu5m-yPFhg
Producing recorded research talks
YouTube video by EATCS
youtu.be
November 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Looking for inspiration for your #FOCS2025 pre-recorded talk? Check out this video youtu.be/Ygu5m-yPFhg
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
I have just learned the acronym STABLE (Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy) in reference to craft supplies, and it is so rude of the English language to call me out like that
November 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I have just learned the acronym STABLE (Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy) in reference to craft supplies, and it is so rude of the English language to call me out like that
Reposted by Joshua Grochow
When I began freelancing around 15 years ago, content writers were subjected to a stream of advice on how to structure and phrase writing to be more easily digested by Google's web crawlers.
A few years later everyone got very excited about a new SEO strategy, "Writing things people wanted to read."
A few years later everyone got very excited about a new SEO strategy, "Writing things people wanted to read."
Saw a post today that advised writers to stop writing as if a human will read it and start writing for an LLM that will be summarising.
As someone who really enjoyed trying to develop a peculiar but readable authorial voice, I find this incredibly depressing.
As someone who really enjoyed trying to develop a peculiar but readable authorial voice, I find this incredibly depressing.
November 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
When I began freelancing around 15 years ago, content writers were subjected to a stream of advice on how to structure and phrase writing to be more easily digested by Google's web crawlers.
A few years later everyone got very excited about a new SEO strategy, "Writing things people wanted to read."
A few years later everyone got very excited about a new SEO strategy, "Writing things people wanted to read."