It's Unreal Just How Awful 'Real ID' Is (2020)
(zocalopublicsquare.org)
Do you love this country, this state, and your freedoms?
Do you love this country, this state, and your freedoms?
We need a better term for GenAI output – "slop" is too benign
(rockpapershotgun.com)
Earlier this month, Snail Games put out a widely and justifiably clowned-on genAI trailer for Ark: Survival Evolved's Aquatica DLC.
Earlier this month, Snail Games put out a widely and justifiably clowned-on genAI trailer for Ark: Survival Evolved's Aquatica DLC.
Why MCP Is Mostly Bullshit
(lycee.ai)
If you follow the AI space closely, you’ve surely noticed the increased interest in MCP (Model Context Protocol).
If you follow the AI space closely, you’ve surely noticed the increased interest in MCP (Model Context Protocol).
The Mediocrity of Modern Google
(om.co)
These days, whenever I think about Google, I recall a line from Madame Bovary. “She wanted to die, but she also wanted to live in Paris,” Flaubert writes, capturing Emma Bovary’s provincial reality and her romanticized dreams of escape. That is Google in a nutshell, isn’t it?
These days, whenever I think about Google, I recall a line from Madame Bovary. “She wanted to die, but she also wanted to live in Paris,” Flaubert writes, capturing Emma Bovary’s provincial reality and her romanticized dreams of escape. That is Google in a nutshell, isn’t it?
Nobody should be a "content creator"
(christianheilmann.com)
As part of my job, I have to keep up with the social media space and I’m worried, bored and annoyed in equal measures. There is not much social about it any longer. Instead it’s become a race to the bottom of lowest common denominator content. And interaction bait. Or rage bait. Or just obvious spam disguised in seemingly sophisticated sound bites generated by AI.
As part of my job, I have to keep up with the social media space and I’m worried, bored and annoyed in equal measures. There is not much social about it any longer. Instead it’s become a race to the bottom of lowest common denominator content. And interaction bait. Or rage bait. Or just obvious spam disguised in seemingly sophisticated sound bites generated by AI.
Tim, don't kill my vibe
(irace.me)
Recent criticism of Apple’s AI efforts has been juicy to say the least, but this shouldn’t distract us from continuing to criticize one of Apple’s most deserving targets: App Review. Especially now that there’s a perfectly good AI lens through which to do so.
Recent criticism of Apple’s AI efforts has been juicy to say the least, but this shouldn’t distract us from continuing to criticize one of Apple’s most deserving targets: App Review. Especially now that there’s a perfectly good AI lens through which to do so.
When writing, don't mention people who've criticized you
(twitter.com)
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
Who Is Free Software For?
(tante.cc)
For a while I have been arguing that maybe there are some issues with the whole “Open*” movements, their founding myths and ideologies (see for example my talk at Fluconf). This criticism comes from a place of love.
For a while I have been arguing that maybe there are some issues with the whole “Open*” movements, their founding myths and ideologies (see for example my talk at Fluconf). This criticism comes from a place of love.
Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino
(daringfireball.net)
In the two decades I’ve been in this racket, I’ve never been angrier at myself for missing a story than I am about Apple’s announcement on Friday that the “more personalized Siri” features of Apple Intelligence, scheduled to appear between now and WWDC, would be delayed until “the coming year”.
In the two decades I’ve been in this racket, I’ve never been angrier at myself for missing a story than I am about Apple’s announcement on Friday that the “more personalized Siri” features of Apple Intelligence, scheduled to appear between now and WWDC, would be delayed until “the coming year”.
Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino
(daringfireball.net)
In the two decades I’ve been in this racket, I’ve never been angrier at myself for missing a story than I am about Apple’s announcement on Friday that the “more personalized Siri” features of Apple Intelligence, scheduled to appear between now and WWDC, would be delayed until “the coming year”.
In the two decades I’ve been in this racket, I’ve never been angrier at myself for missing a story than I am about Apple’s announcement on Friday that the “more personalized Siri” features of Apple Intelligence, scheduled to appear between now and WWDC, would be delayed until “the coming year”.
Steve Wozniak says Tesla 'is the worst in the world' at improving its technology
(fortune.com)
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak is no fan of his Tesla's interior.
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak is no fan of his Tesla's interior.
Spotify's biggest sin? Its algos pushed artists to make joyless, toothless music
(theguardian.com)
In the hands of some of its most gifted practitioners, songwriting is a kind of emotional alchemy.
In the hands of some of its most gifted practitioners, songwriting is a kind of emotional alchemy.
There Is No AI Revolution by Ed Zitron
(wheresyoured.at)
Last week, I spent a great deal of time and words framing the generative AI industry as a cynical con where OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei have used a compliant media and braindead investors to frame unprofitable, unsustainable, environmentally-damaging and mediocre cloud software as some sort of powerful, futuristic automation.
Last week, I spent a great deal of time and words framing the generative AI industry as a cynical con where OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei have used a compliant media and braindead investors to frame unprofitable, unsustainable, environmentally-damaging and mediocre cloud software as some sort of powerful, futuristic automation.
Elon Musk Biographer: No Evidence Billionaire Has Any Intellectual Achievements
(thewrap.com)
Attorney, journalist, and Elon Musk biographer Seth Abramson eviscerated both Elon Musk and his “fanboys” who have attempted to use the billionaire’s IQ as an indication of his intellectual prowess in a series of messages shared on X Thursday evening and into Friday.
Attorney, journalist, and Elon Musk biographer Seth Abramson eviscerated both Elon Musk and his “fanboys” who have attempted to use the billionaire’s IQ as an indication of his intellectual prowess in a series of messages shared on X Thursday evening and into Friday.
Wikipedia's Co-Founder Is Wikipedia's Most Outspoken Critic
(vice.com)
In Słubice, Poland, there’s a monument to Wikipedia, the inscription on which reads: “Wikipedia [is] the greatest project co-created by people regardless of political, religious, or cultural borders.”
In Słubice, Poland, there’s a monument to Wikipedia, the inscription on which reads: “Wikipedia [is] the greatest project co-created by people regardless of political, religious, or cultural borders.”
Laid-off Meta employees blast Zuckerberg: the 'cruelest tech company out there'
(fortune.com)
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued layoffs in the name of low-performance that workers deemed callous.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued layoffs in the name of low-performance that workers deemed callous.
I Tried to Fix Government Tech for Years. I'm Fed Up
(reason.com)
When I helped create the United States Digital Service (USDS), it was not on my bingo board that it would become the U.S. DOGE Service a mere decade later.
When I helped create the United States Digital Service (USDS), it was not on my bingo board that it would become the U.S. DOGE Service a mere decade later.
Google Maps blocks Gulf of America reviews after rename criticism
(bbc.com)
Google Maps has blocked reviews for the Gulf of Mexico, after criticism of its decision to label it "Gulf of America" for users in the US.
Google Maps has blocked reviews for the Gulf of Mexico, after criticism of its decision to label it "Gulf of America" for users in the US.
Could Amadeus be the most misunderstood Oscar winner?
(bbc.com)
Released 40 years ago this month, Miloš Forman's best picture-winning Amadeus is often accused of historical inaccuracies – but the film's critics could be missing the point.
Released 40 years ago this month, Miloš Forman's best picture-winning Amadeus is often accused of historical inaccuracies – but the film's critics could be missing the point.
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
(arstechnica.com)
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
(arstechnica.com)
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
(arstechnica.com)
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
As Internet enshittification marches on, here are some of the worst offenders
(arstechnica.com)
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
Two years ago, a Canadian writer named Cory Doctorow coined the phrase "enshittification" to describe the decay of online platforms.
Why Children's Books?
(lrb.co.uk)
In 1803, Samuel Taylor Coleridge sat in his astronomer’s study in Keswick, and wrote in his notebook his central Principle of Criticism:
In 1803, Samuel Taylor Coleridge sat in his astronomer’s study in Keswick, and wrote in his notebook his central Principle of Criticism:
AI is failing the Indoor Plumbing Test
(freddiedeboer.substack.com)
The AI conversation remains absurd, hype-ridden, and utterly out of touch with actual material reality.
The AI conversation remains absurd, hype-ridden, and utterly out of touch with actual material reality.