Levi Checketts
@lchecketts.bsky.social
Ethicist at Hong Kong Baptist University, focusing on intersection of poverty, new technologies, and Catholic social ethics. Author of Poor Technologies: Artificial Intelligence and the Experience of Poverty.
Pinned
Levi Checketts
@lchecketts.bsky.social
· May 11
www.jstor.org
I don’t normally do a lot of self-promotion, but with Pope Leo XIV’s focus on AI and economic and labor justice, my work of the past 6 or so years is very timely. Starting off my monograph, which is specifically about poverty and AI.
www.jstor.org/stable/jj.57...
www.jstor.org/stable/jj.57...
I’ve been saying for a while that AI is not inevitable, nor is it something we should just allow to happen. Proof that we need to stand up and that those in power don’t want us to
www.commondreams.org/news/ai-data...
www.commondreams.org/news/ai-data...
As AI Data Centers Disrupt US Cities, Wisconsin Woman Violently Arrested After Speaking Out | Common Dreams
Public opposition to AI data centers in Wisconsin was vividly illustrated in a viral video of a woman being arrested for speaking out against a proposed data center. Are corporations and officials ign...
www.commondreams.org
December 6, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I’ve been saying for a while that AI is not inevitable, nor is it something we should just allow to happen. Proof that we need to stand up and that those in power don’t want us to
www.commondreams.org/news/ai-data...
www.commondreams.org/news/ai-data...
I watched The Running Man while sitting next to a 60 year-old Hong Kong woman who made occasional comments about Glenn Powell in Cantonese to me, and honestly, this is the only way to watch movies
December 6, 2025 at 8:22 AM
I watched The Running Man while sitting next to a 60 year-old Hong Kong woman who made occasional comments about Glenn Powell in Cantonese to me, and honestly, this is the only way to watch movies
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
(I was surprised to discover this, btw)
(I was surprised to discover this, btw)
November 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
(I was surprised to discover this, btw)
(I was surprised to discover this, btw)
Some personal news: I won an outstanding teaching award for my faculty!
November 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Some personal news: I won an outstanding teaching award for my faculty!
The guy who gave HK its cinematic prowess for the latter half of the 20th century because no Hollywood project would give him a lead role, even for the show he created.
Coming on 2026 from the USPS, a new stamp honoring the great Bruce Lee.
November 16, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The guy who gave HK its cinematic prowess for the latter half of the 20th century because no Hollywood project would give him a lead role, even for the show he created.
I’m going to have to listen to the whole thing to see how much of this description is just clickbait, but absolutely not, the #unconscious is nothing like an #LLM.
#Lacan even presciently addressed problems of AI in his second seminar when he noted cybernetics lacks an imaginary.
#Lacan even presciently addressed problems of AI in his second seminar when he noted cybernetics lacks an imaginary.
November 16, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I’m going to have to listen to the whole thing to see how much of this description is just clickbait, but absolutely not, the #unconscious is nothing like an #LLM.
#Lacan even presciently addressed problems of AI in his second seminar when he noted cybernetics lacks an imaginary.
#Lacan even presciently addressed problems of AI in his second seminar when he noted cybernetics lacks an imaginary.
Recently read Marcuse’s reflection on Weber’s thought and he notes the “rationality” of capitalism at some point has to serve irrationality.
Knowing how the disease will spread=rationality. Using this to plan for labor shortage instead of worker protection=irrationality.
Knowing how the disease will spread=rationality. Using this to plan for labor shortage instead of worker protection=irrationality.
During the height of the pandemic, Tyson used Palantir to predict Covid-19 infections among meatpacking workers down to a nearly exactly figure. But rather than using this data to increase worker protections, Tyson used it plan for labor shortages + plant closures
My latest for @sentientmedia.org
My latest for @sentientmedia.org
November 15, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Recently read Marcuse’s reflection on Weber’s thought and he notes the “rationality” of capitalism at some point has to serve irrationality.
Knowing how the disease will spread=rationality. Using this to plan for labor shortage instead of worker protection=irrationality.
Knowing how the disease will spread=rationality. Using this to plan for labor shortage instead of worker protection=irrationality.
When I wrote “Poor Machines,” I worried that my claim that AI could lead to a revival of eugenics would be seen as just anti-tech moral panic.
I see I was only wrong on how long I expected it to take.
I see I was only wrong on how long I expected it to take.
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
econ.st
November 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
When I wrote “Poor Machines,” I worried that my claim that AI could lead to a revival of eugenics would be seen as just anti-tech moral panic.
I see I was only wrong on how long I expected it to take.
I see I was only wrong on how long I expected it to take.
Never thought I’d see the day when right wing Christians accuse Evangelicals of being too ecumenical to be true Christians.
At least according to this protestor, I’m in the right place as a Catholic! I was worried I’d stand out!
At least according to this protestor, I’m in the right place as a Catholic! I was worried I’d stand out!
October 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Never thought I’d see the day when right wing Christians accuse Evangelicals of being too ecumenical to be true Christians.
At least according to this protestor, I’m in the right place as a Catholic! I was worried I’d stand out!
At least according to this protestor, I’m in the right place as a Catholic! I was worried I’d stand out!
In the last 3 months, I’ve consulted for the #WCC NIFEA statement on AI in Pocheon, South Korea, spoke to the Catholic #NHNAI conference at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, consulted on the #CCA communique on AI in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, and am on my way to #WEAGA in Seoul to again talk about AI
October 28, 2025 at 3:57 AM
One thing I’ve noticed in religious conversations around AI is that the Evangelical attitude toward AI is really on its own compared to mainline Protestantism and Catholicism, and even compared to a lot of interreligious conversations.
Some thoughts:
1/6
Some thoughts:
1/6
October 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
One thing I’ve noticed in religious conversations around AI is that the Evangelical attitude toward AI is really on its own compared to mainline Protestantism and Catholicism, and even compared to a lot of interreligious conversations.
Some thoughts:
1/6
Some thoughts:
1/6
Anyone interested, hit me up!
Our research project, "AI and Vulnerable Populations in Hong Kong," is advertising for a (funded) PhD student. PI: @lchecketts.bsky.social; Co-I: @gillianchuphd.bsky.social, @drybis.bsky.social, and Prof. Rachel Robertson. Please apply (or have your students apply)! philjobs.org/job/show/29998
Hong Kong Baptist University PhD in AI ethics, Hong Kong Baptist University
- PhilJobs:JFP
Hong Kong Baptist University PhD in AI ethics, Hong Kong Baptist University
An international database of jobs for philosophers
philjobs.org
October 26, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Anyone interested, hit me up!
Reposted by Levi Checketts
Our research project, "AI and Vulnerable Populations in Hong Kong," is advertising for a (funded) PhD student. PI: @lchecketts.bsky.social; Co-I: @gillianchuphd.bsky.social, @drybis.bsky.social, and Prof. Rachel Robertson. Please apply (or have your students apply)! philjobs.org/job/show/29998
Hong Kong Baptist University PhD in AI ethics, Hong Kong Baptist University
- PhilJobs:JFP
Hong Kong Baptist University PhD in AI ethics, Hong Kong Baptist University
An international database of jobs for philosophers
philjobs.org
October 25, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Our research project, "AI and Vulnerable Populations in Hong Kong," is advertising for a (funded) PhD student. PI: @lchecketts.bsky.social; Co-I: @gillianchuphd.bsky.social, @drybis.bsky.social, and Prof. Rachel Robertson. Please apply (or have your students apply)! philjobs.org/job/show/29998
I watched #OneBattleAfterAnother last night. Interesting to see it as an American living in Hong Kong. Obviously the cultural and political elements hit hard, but my geographical remoteness allows a viewing that’s perhaps less immediate.
Still processing, but some thoughts.
Slight spoilers
1/9
Still processing, but some thoughts.
Slight spoilers
1/9
October 11, 2025 at 6:45 AM
I watched #OneBattleAfterAnother last night. Interesting to see it as an American living in Hong Kong. Obviously the cultural and political elements hit hard, but my geographical remoteness allows a viewing that’s perhaps less immediate.
Still processing, but some thoughts.
Slight spoilers
1/9
Still processing, but some thoughts.
Slight spoilers
1/9
Guy whose definitely going to go 10 minutes over in his talk: we’re already a little late, so I’ll keep this brief
October 4, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Guy whose definitely going to go 10 minutes over in his talk: we’re already a little late, so I’ll keep this brief
I’m attending a consultation for the Christian Conference of Asia on AI I. Malaysia. I’ve already done my portion, and we’re off to a good start!
www.cca.org.hk/news/interna...
www.cca.org.hk/news/interna...
International Consultation on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Posthumanism’ commences in Cyberjaya, Malaysia | CCA
Cyberjaya, Malaysia: The international consultation on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Posthumanism: Ethical and Theological Perspectives’ organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) commenced in...
www.cca.org.hk
October 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I’m attending a consultation for the Christian Conference of Asia on AI I. Malaysia. I’ve already done my portion, and we’re off to a good start!
www.cca.org.hk/news/interna...
www.cca.org.hk/news/interna...
#NihilismAndTechnology
This is bleak. Let’s burn the forests to make our students stupider in the name of capital.
This is bleak. Let’s burn the forests to make our students stupider in the name of capital.
OpenAI's VP for education recently said the company wanted to become "core infrastructure" for schools and universities. Any infrastructure, though, always depends on habituating users to its technical affordances - so I've been trying to track how it's doing that 🧵 www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/t...
Welcome to Campus. Here’s Your ChatGPT.
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:41 AM
#NihilismAndTechnology
This is bleak. Let’s burn the forests to make our students stupider in the name of capital.
This is bleak. Let’s burn the forests to make our students stupider in the name of capital.
When I went to Hong Kong to work, everyone I knew warned me about being careful what I say. Weird how a territory of China has more liberty than Texas
Breaking: Texas Tech chancellor limits academic mentions of transgender and nonbinary identities at five universities.
Texas Tech chancellor limits academic mentions of transgender and nonbinary identities at five universities
Advocacy groups say the new state law, presidential executive order and gubernatorial letter Tedd Mitchell cited do not prohibit classroom discussions of particular LGBTQ+ identities.
www.texastribune.org
September 28, 2025 at 4:52 AM
When I went to Hong Kong to work, everyone I knew warned me about being careful what I say. Weird how a territory of China has more liberty than Texas
One of the surreal things about staying in hotels in different places in Asia is seeing what’s on TV. There seems to always be one English-language channel but it either only shows Australian programming or low-budget thrillers.
September 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM
One of the surreal things about staying in hotels in different places in Asia is seeing what’s on TV. There seems to always be one English-language channel but it either only shows Australian programming or low-budget thrillers.
Putting “You absolute” before Asian pastry names yields a whole new level of insult
September 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Putting “You absolute” before Asian pastry names yields a whole new level of insult
So nearly all flights to Taipei tomorrow are canceled due to #TyphoonRagasa except mine which either means I’m very lucky or, as one colleague pointed out, I may die🤷♂️
September 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
So nearly all flights to Taipei tomorrow are canceled due to #TyphoonRagasa except mine which either means I’m very lucky or, as one colleague pointed out, I may die🤷♂️
I’m cited on the Social Anthropology page, but whoever cited me probably didn’t read my article.
September 20, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I’m cited on the Social Anthropology page, but whoever cited me probably didn’t read my article.
There’s a 45-50 year-old woman in a skin-tight dress dancing on the metro to the music in her AirPods and it’s probably the closest I’ve been to living a David Lynch movie
September 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
There’s a 45-50 year-old woman in a skin-tight dress dancing on the metro to the music in her AirPods and it’s probably the closest I’ve been to living a David Lynch movie
One of the best rhetorical victories of the industrial age was making the popular uprising of the Luddites synonymous with being anti-tech and socially regressive.
We need to reclaim narratives
We need to reclaim narratives
Something I didn't get to say yesterday:
We heard over and over during the event about "human-centered" approaches to "AI". But if refusal is not on the table (at every level: individual students and teachers right up through UNESCO) then we have in fact centered the technology, not the people.
We heard over and over during the event about "human-centered" approaches to "AI". But if refusal is not on the table (at every level: individual students and teachers right up through UNESCO) then we have in fact centered the technology, not the people.
It has been really interesting to attend UNESCO's Digital Learning Week (though unfortunately I'm not able to stick around). My public lecture from yesterday can be found here:
www.youtube.com/live/l-OWi6V...
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www.youtube.com/live/l-OWi6V...
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September 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
One of the best rhetorical victories of the industrial age was making the popular uprising of the Luddites synonymous with being anti-tech and socially regressive.
We need to reclaim narratives
We need to reclaim narratives
Participated in this consultation I last week in Pocheon-si South Korea. It was a very rewarding experience and I’m grateful I could contribute to the WCC’s response to AI. A communique will be forthcoming. And you can spot me at the podium in this thumbnail.
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...
NIFEA consultation addresses global inequality, rise of AI, Fourth Industrial Revolution - Council for World Mission
www.cwmission.org
September 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Participated in this consultation I last week in Pocheon-si South Korea. It was a very rewarding experience and I’m grateful I could contribute to the WCC’s response to AI. A communique will be forthcoming. And you can spot me at the podium in this thumbnail.
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...