Nat
@natmegs.bsky.social
🇨🇦 software eng. public library superfan. certified ai hater
Reposted by Nat
Yes.
Truly, I’ve answered this a thousand times. The answer is yes, the costs absolutely do outweigh the benefits.
To put it the other way so the sentiment matches my meaning: No, innovation is not worth the costs.
Truly, I’ve answered this a thousand times. The answer is yes, the costs absolutely do outweigh the benefits.
To put it the other way so the sentiment matches my meaning: No, innovation is not worth the costs.
Don't disagree. But again my point is whether the costs of LLMs in this context outweigh the benefits of accelerating innovation?
August 23, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Yes.
Truly, I’ve answered this a thousand times. The answer is yes, the costs absolutely do outweigh the benefits.
To put it the other way so the sentiment matches my meaning: No, innovation is not worth the costs.
Truly, I’ve answered this a thousand times. The answer is yes, the costs absolutely do outweigh the benefits.
To put it the other way so the sentiment matches my meaning: No, innovation is not worth the costs.
Reposted by Nat
Not knowing about the scrutiny is not the same as the scrutiny not existing. In my world, people, organizations, researchers have been scrutinizing data centers’ ecological costs for a long time. Close to home, environmental racism activists have been on this since Web 1.0.
I’m open to that argument as well but it’s never offered
LLMs are treated as an object whose every externality must be precisely accounted for
but conventional computing, which consumes hundreds of terawatts annually, is exempt from the same scrutiny
LLMs are treated as an object whose every externality must be precisely accounted for
but conventional computing, which consumes hundreds of terawatts annually, is exempt from the same scrutiny
August 23, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Not knowing about the scrutiny is not the same as the scrutiny not existing. In my world, people, organizations, researchers have been scrutinizing data centers’ ecological costs for a long time. Close to home, environmental racism activists have been on this since Web 1.0.
Reposted by Nat
You don’t need to send me a story about how it saved you an hour at work or helped you solve a math riddle or even self-diagnose a medical ailment. My thinking will be the same. That is nice and it is still not worth the societal costs.
August 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
You don’t need to send me a story about how it saved you an hour at work or helped you solve a math riddle or even self-diagnose a medical ailment. My thinking will be the same. That is nice and it is still not worth the societal costs.
Reposted by Nat
You can add up all the enjoyable pursuits of LLMs and the work productivity hacks and none of them, separately or together, will be more important than AI’s ecological costs or political disruption.
“We” is more important here.
“We” is more important here.
August 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
You can add up all the enjoyable pursuits of LLMs and the work productivity hacks and none of them, separately or together, will be more important than AI’s ecological costs or political disruption.
“We” is more important here.
“We” is more important here.
Reposted by Nat
Every day I draw closer to actually planning what was initially a joke of an idea — a private conference where people who feel absolutely insane in our regular life for not believing robots will save us from our ogliarchs can just get together and latent to be normal for 36 hours. Over drinks.
August 12, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Every day I draw closer to actually planning what was initially a joke of an idea — a private conference where people who feel absolutely insane in our regular life for not believing robots will save us from our ogliarchs can just get together and latent to be normal for 36 hours. Over drinks.
Chain gang all stars inches closer to nonfiction every day
Kristi Noem has been working with the producer of “Duck Dynasty” to pitch a reality TV show—titled “The American”—where immigrants will compete in a string of challenges across the country “for the honor of fast-tracking their way to U.S. citizenship,” according to a new report.
Noem Plots Reality Show Where Migrants Fight for Citizenship
A Homeland Security official told the Daily Beast that the show is in the early stages of vetting, though approval has not been given—or denied.
www.thedailybeast.com
May 16, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Chain gang all stars inches closer to nonfiction every day
Reposted by Nat
LUDDITE POPE
The Catholic Church has a new Pope, and he explicitly cited the threats AI presents for workers as a reason for choosing the name Leo XIV.
With the tech industry doing all it can to defend its power, could the Pope be an ally against the AI onslaught?
With the tech industry doing all it can to defend its power, could the Pope be an ally against the AI onslaught?
Will Pope Leo XIV be an ally against AI?
The Catholic Church has a striking clear-eyed critique of artificial intelligence
www.disconnect.blog
May 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
LUDDITE POPE
Reposted by Nat
i am not trolling when i say this, and i don’t think it’s controversial to believe: ceo is probably the most ai-replaceable job, given human CEO’s track records as of late along with how expensive they are.
Sure, AI may be an environmental disaster and produce mid outcomes in cases where it doesn't straight up lie, but at least it's extremely unprofitable.
As Klarna flips from AI-first to hiring people again, a new landmark survey reveals most AI projects fail to deliver
Just 1 in 4 AI investments bring in the ROI they promise—but CEOs just can’t resist the technology.
fortune.com
May 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
i am not trolling when i say this, and i don’t think it’s controversial to believe: ceo is probably the most ai-replaceable job, given human CEO’s track records as of late along with how expensive they are.
Reposted by Nat
This gets papered over as old man yelling at clouds but this is impeachable by itself. Greenland is our ally which has allowed a continual U.S. military presence since WWII, including a vital part of our missile defense and space surveillance. Threatening them is unacceptable.
Q: "Would you rule out military force to take Canada?"
Trump: "I think we're not going to ever get to that point. Something could happen with Greenland, I'll be honest."
Q: "You are not ruling out military force to take Greenland?"
Trump: "I don't rule it out."
Trump: "I think we're not going to ever get to that point. Something could happen with Greenland, I'll be honest."
Q: "You are not ruling out military force to take Greenland?"
Trump: "I don't rule it out."
May 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This gets papered over as old man yelling at clouds but this is impeachable by itself. Greenland is our ally which has allowed a continual U.S. military presence since WWII, including a vital part of our missile defense and space surveillance. Threatening them is unacceptable.
Reposted by Nat
AI’s only general purpose use is to control labor. Thank you.
Their plan is to use AI to detect forbidden words and content for any federally funded research project. I expect this to be challenged in court in due time, but in the meantime, I need to comply to keep funding my students
May 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
AI’s only general purpose use is to control labor. Thank you.
Reposted by Nat
Stepping in here to defend Ann’s statement, which I’ve now seen framed this way by several technologists.
Ann is an author.
Her context is about usability, not technical capacity. On the merits of her context, she is correct.
Technical specificity does not change her conclusions.
Ann is an author.
Her context is about usability, not technical capacity. On the merits of her context, she is correct.
Technical specificity does not change her conclusions.
This is one of the most-shared posts on Bluesky in the past day and it's just completely false. You might think ChatGPT is a *bad* search engine, or prefer another search engine. But it has had integrated web search since last year.
May 1, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Stepping in here to defend Ann’s statement, which I’ve now seen framed this way by several technologists.
Ann is an author.
Her context is about usability, not technical capacity. On the merits of her context, she is correct.
Technical specificity does not change her conclusions.
Ann is an author.
Her context is about usability, not technical capacity. On the merits of her context, she is correct.
Technical specificity does not change her conclusions.
Reposted by Nat
can’t tell you how much joy i get from seeing pierre poilievre lost his seat
April 29, 2025 at 12:53 PM
can’t tell you how much joy i get from seeing pierre poilievre lost his seat
If this holds I’ll take it as proof that the universe has both mercy and a sense of humour. LFG
We've got to be getting close to calling this for Fanjoy...
April 29, 2025 at 5:53 AM
If this holds I’ll take it as proof that the universe has both mercy and a sense of humour. LFG
Reposted by Nat
Mark Carney has a unique opportunity to remake Canada in ways his predecessors would’ve struggled to find the political capital to do.
I hope he takes advantage to build ambitious, nation-building projects to bring the country together again and get serious about reducing our dependence on the US.
I hope he takes advantage to build ambitious, nation-building projects to bring the country together again and get serious about reducing our dependence on the US.
April 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Mark Carney has a unique opportunity to remake Canada in ways his predecessors would’ve struggled to find the political capital to do.
I hope he takes advantage to build ambitious, nation-building projects to bring the country together again and get serious about reducing our dependence on the US.
I hope he takes advantage to build ambitious, nation-building projects to bring the country together again and get serious about reducing our dependence on the US.
I’ve been taking a head in the sand approach to election coverage today so have avoided looking til now but maybe there is a merciful god after all
April 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I’ve been taking a head in the sand approach to election coverage today so have avoided looking til now but maybe there is a merciful god after all
Reposted by Nat
No matter what polls say, this Canadian election could be VERY close.
Don’t be overconfident, apathetic, or unstrategic, like too many were in the United States.
Look how that turned out for them. And for the world.
TURNOUT WINS ELECTIONS.
2 more advance voting days.
Make Mark Carney our PM.
Don’t be overconfident, apathetic, or unstrategic, like too many were in the United States.
Look how that turned out for them. And for the world.
TURNOUT WINS ELECTIONS.
2 more advance voting days.
Make Mark Carney our PM.
April 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
No matter what polls say, this Canadian election could be VERY close.
Don’t be overconfident, apathetic, or unstrategic, like too many were in the United States.
Look how that turned out for them. And for the world.
TURNOUT WINS ELECTIONS.
2 more advance voting days.
Make Mark Carney our PM.
Don’t be overconfident, apathetic, or unstrategic, like too many were in the United States.
Look how that turned out for them. And for the world.
TURNOUT WINS ELECTIONS.
2 more advance voting days.
Make Mark Carney our PM.
Reposted by Nat
“Just calm down and let people enjoy chatgpt.” Sorry, no. I find it creepy that folks are treating a machine that mimics human speech as their friend / therapist. It is feeding you lies. It is destroying your thinking abilities. Shut it off. Talk to other humans. Go outside.
April 15, 2025 at 6:49 PM
“Just calm down and let people enjoy chatgpt.” Sorry, no. I find it creepy that folks are treating a machine that mimics human speech as their friend / therapist. It is feeding you lies. It is destroying your thinking abilities. Shut it off. Talk to other humans. Go outside.
Reposted by Nat
The slope isn't slippery; the frog isn't gradually getting boiled. Within its first hundred days the Trump administration has openly asserted the right/ power to seize and imprison anyone— including political dissidents, including citizens— and deprive them of any legal recourse at all.
5/
5/
April 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The slope isn't slippery; the frog isn't gradually getting boiled. Within its first hundred days the Trump administration has openly asserted the right/ power to seize and imprison anyone— including political dissidents, including citizens— and deprive them of any legal recourse at all.
5/
5/
Reposted by Nat
Make no mistake: Canadians know there’s no going back after what the United States has done.
"What impact will this trade dispute have on the US-Canada relationship?"
Permanently damage it: 65%
Eventually it will blow over: 23%
Unsure: 13%
Angus Reid / March 21, 2025 / n=5003 / Online
Permanently damage it: 65%
Eventually it will blow over: 23%
Unsure: 13%
Angus Reid / March 21, 2025 / n=5003 / Online
April 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Make no mistake: Canadians know there’s no going back after what the United States has done.
Reposted by Nat
I wrote about this a bit in my last book but it really shakes me that a defining feature of this catastrophic era is that we just keep going to work. We work through pandemics, we work through natural disasters, we work through economic calamity, we work through coups, we work, we work, we work.
April 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I wrote about this a bit in my last book but it really shakes me that a defining feature of this catastrophic era is that we just keep going to work. We work through pandemics, we work through natural disasters, we work through economic calamity, we work through coups, we work, we work, we work.
Reposted by Nat
The library is the only place that Americans experience the fullness of what it means to remove goods from the market. It pings our consciousness. Hey we could love differently!
Internet friends, I understand if you are green with envy at me for attending this great talk last night!
"Who's afraid of libraries?" was the rhetorical opener and I loved the point (among many) that libraries are where things are free. "a CVS looks really weird after you've been to the library."
"Who's afraid of libraries?" was the rhetorical opener and I loved the point (among many) that libraries are where things are free. "a CVS looks really weird after you've been to the library."
A rainy Monday night. A rusty writer/speaker. A full house. An enthusiastic discussion.
I left with a bottle of brown.
Thank you, Durham Public Library, all the Tre-yonce fans, and #LibraryFest25.
“Who’s Afraid of the Library?”
I left with a bottle of brown.
Thank you, Durham Public Library, all the Tre-yonce fans, and #LibraryFest25.
“Who’s Afraid of the Library?”
April 8, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The library is the only place that Americans experience the fullness of what it means to remove goods from the market. It pings our consciousness. Hey we could love differently!
Reposted by Nat
my hope is that AI can empower the Dumbest, Least talented slobs i know to replace everything i ever loved with One Million Years of Content
April 8, 2025 at 3:07 AM
my hope is that AI can empower the Dumbest, Least talented slobs i know to replace everything i ever loved with One Million Years of Content
Reposted by Nat
ChatGPT as a search engine alternative is melting brains faster than global warming is melting the ice caps
April 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
ChatGPT as a search engine alternative is melting brains faster than global warming is melting the ice caps
Reposted by Nat
Radio-Canada/CBC est un pilier de notre identité canadienne.
Nous annonçons un financement à long terme plus important et une modernisation de son mandat pour diffuser davantage d’informations locales et de mieux informer les Canadiens en cas d’urgence.
Nous annonçons un financement à long terme plus important et une modernisation de son mandat pour diffuser davantage d’informations locales et de mieux informer les Canadiens en cas d’urgence.
April 4, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Radio-Canada/CBC est un pilier de notre identité canadienne.
Nous annonçons un financement à long terme plus important et une modernisation de son mandat pour diffuser davantage d’informations locales et de mieux informer les Canadiens en cas d’urgence.
Nous annonçons un financement à long terme plus important et une modernisation de son mandat pour diffuser davantage d’informations locales et de mieux informer les Canadiens en cas d’urgence.