Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 4h

That version might also become "we have our own magic machine, and if you pay us, you're getting access to the results from our magic machine." But, yeah, that only works if results are magical.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 4h

The worst possible approach!

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 4h

Agreed!

Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 4h

Consulting firms have long covered their vast collection of $300/hour-billable recent college graduates with the fig leaf of $600/hour-billable actual experts. Maybe the plan is to drop 90% of the recent college graduates, and basically just keep the fig leaf? IDK. It'll be fun to watch.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 4h

To the extent to which big consulting firms don't feel threatened by AI, it's because they understand that a big part of their job is merely decision-laundering. A big organization wants to do a thing, and they need somebody to blame in case that thing goes wrong? Time to bring on a big consultant!

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 4h

The big consulting firms are bragging about their use of AI because they're always chasing trends (blockchain, IoT, etc.) and selling them to governments and corporations. But they don't seem to get that AI is the one that threatens to undermine their existence.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 4h

If I ran a consulting firm, I'd be yelling as loudly as I could that we will never use LLMs in lieu of the work of our experienced, talented, brilliant people. If a consulting firm's work is so shitty that it can be replaced with an LLM, then they should go out of business as soon as possible.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 5h

Now, I'm just a simple unfrozen caveman, but it seems to me that the competitive advantage of Deloitte et al used to be "we hire experienced, talent, brilliant people, if you pay us, you can have access to them." What I'm hearing here is, instead, "we have a subscription to ChatGPT." 🤔

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 5h

The second news story was Deloitte charging the Australian government $290k for a report that was generated by an LLM, full of nonsense. These consulting firms aren't just *talking* about using AI in lieu of having smart people research and think hard—they're actually doing it.

Deloitte to partially refund Australian government for report with apparent AI-generated errors

Deloitte Australia will partially refund the Australian government for a report filled with apparent AI-generated errors.

apnews.com

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 5h

I've seen a couple of news stories recently that tell me how completely screwed that major consulting firms are. The first was Accenture laying off 1% of their workforce to demonstrate that they're all in on GenAI. Really? Accenture wants to advertise that they can be replaced by an $20/month LLM?

Accenture plans on 'exiting' staff who can't be reskilled on AI amid restructuring strategy

Accenture CEO Julie Sweet said as advanced AI becomes core to the company's strategy, employees are expected to "retrain and retool" at scale.

www.cnbc.com

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 6h

The Trump regime is close to figuring out that they can have OMB apportion non-budgeted funding, order the Treasury to print the needed money, and skip the congressional appropriations process entirely. This is all grossly illegal, but by the time the courts do anything, oops, the money’s spent.

George Pearkes @peark.es · 11h

Well that's not how appropriations work at all

*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT

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Reposted by Waldo Jaquith

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 20h

Someone should start asking why we’re hearing and seeing Stephen Miller so much all of a sudden.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 12h

Yeah, she’s real off-putting.

Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 12h

With deference to the fact that Winsome Earle-Sears has always been Like This, I speculate that we’ll see Republican gubernatorial candidates promising to simply be a vessel for Trump. “Vote for me.
I have no fixed beliefs, and I’ll do whatever Trump says.”

Jonathan Locke @qsmsn4rasb.bsky.social · 13h

Deference to whatever Trump says is the only Republican policy position in 2025.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 13h

Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears has no policy positions, has shared no plans for what she’d do if elected, grants no interviews, and isn’t even on her own campaign bus as it tours the state. She’s a candidate in name only.

Spanberger answers questions about policy. Earle-Sears does not.

This fits a pattern where Earle-Sears has avoided taking about most issues. Her silence on issues is unprecedented in modern Virginia history.

cardinalnews.org

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Reposted by Waldo Jaquith

Coach Finstock @coachfinstock.bsky.social · 16h

Hey CNN why are the gas prices on this photo so low? Ohhhh. I see. You're hoping no one notices this photo is from before the internet fucking existed. You shitheads.

CNN @cnn.com · 23h

"President Donald Trump and his top aides are using the word 'insurrection' more frequently to describe anti-ICE protests in places like Portland," writes Zachary B. Wolf. https://cnn.it/4pWYmzr

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Reposted by Waldo Jaquith

Goldy @goldy.horsesass.org · 16h

"Democratic strongholds" in this militaristic context makes it sound like we're terrorists or insurrections or warlords. I cannot express how angry I am at American journalism for enabling this moment.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 16h

Hundreds of National Guard troops were expected soon in Chicago. The deployment is the latest in a series of military incursions in U.S. cities, particularly in Democratic strongholds. President Trump said he would consider invoking emergency powers to “get around” legal obstacles. Follow updates.

National Guard Troops Expected Soon in Chicago as Trump Considers Invoking Emergency Powers: Live Updates

The mobilization includes some 200 Guard troops from Texas. President Trump said he would consider invoking emergency powers to “get around” legal obstacles.

nyti.ms

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 14h

And with Haymarket! Hell yes!

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 14h

Oh shit!

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Reposted by Waldo Jaquith

Veni Kunche @veni.dev · 1d

"Deloitte Australia will issue a partial refund to the federal government after admitting that AI had been used in the creation of a $440,000 report littered with errors including three nonexistent academic references and a made-up quote from a Federal Court judgement."

www.afr.com/companies/pr...

Deloitte to refund government, admits using AI in $440k report

Deloitte will issue a partial refund to the government after admitting that artificial intelligence had been used in the creation of a report littered with errors.

www.afr.com

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 1d

I had a very good laugh at this

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Reposted by Waldo Jaquith

Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 1d

It's a pretty big deal that the NYC Bar Association--one of the most prominent and respected bar associations in the country--is accusing the President of ordering the "unlawful summary execution," i.e. murder--of civilians in violation of US and international law. www.nycbar.org/press-releas...

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DAVE! (like "Them!" but Dave) @daveexmachina.bsky.social · 1d

normal person: i just want a place to hang out with my friends
tech weirdo: and shitheads
np: no just my friends
tw: but what about hearing alternative views on race and gender?
np: we just want to hang out and goof around
tw: so where do the shitheads fit in then
np: no shitheads
tw: not following

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Reposted by Waldo Jaquith

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 1d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 1d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Reposted by Waldo Jaquith

Noah Shachtman @noahshachtman.bsky.social · 1d

I am absolutely positive there is nothing shady whatsoever about Eric Adams making a previously unannounced trip to a totally rando country.

Chris Sommerfeldt @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social · 1d

Around 11:30 p.m. last night, Mayor Adams' office announced he's going to Albania this week.

On "day one" of his trip, Adams is meeting with the country's prime minister and will also "visit local businesses and factories."

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