We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed reading Zuckerburg’s deranged superintelligent AI future post, hearing about pagers leveraged for data breach and what could ever go wrong?
To quote Buckminster Fuller “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.“
You are seeing aspects of this with the EU finally embracing open source as part of sovereignty, Chicago public media launching a city wide social network with New public and will Meta’s settlement finally make the difference we need for traditional social media?
The reality of not believing what you see is here
Ian thinks: This interview with GetReal is honestly incredibly difficult and NSFW listen to. It certainly digs in to how the AI tools from the likes of Grok and Meta is have not only caused the deep-fake dilemma people have predicted for years. But also a crisis for those trying to report and stop them.
Disinformation and fear fuelled deaths
Ian thinks: On a similar point, Channel 4’s breakdown of what happened in the Ceuta migrant crisis, is a good solid watch. Watching it made super clear how disinformation is a real killer and how clearly thoughts about its weaponisation has long become a reality. Sadly its only going to get far worst.
The Surveillance as standard
Ian thinks: The EFF, are great for tools which help so many people understand the nuances of the digital surveillance state we find our selves in now. I would love to see tools like this become something which is shared with others organisations across the world.
Rethinking social software with Blane Cook
Ian thinks: I have a lot of time for Blane, I have come across he quite a lot and his thoughtful mind is perfect for this conversation. A little bit of what Twitter could have been but not the nostalgia nonsense I occasionally still here, but forks in the road where decisions could have made something much closer to what social looks like now.
One good thing going right
Ian thinks: This short TED talk is a reminder there is hope and there is a way forward, even when things are clearly not great.
Which end of the centaur are you?
Ian thinks: This interview on Jon Steward’s weekly show with Cory Doctorow is full of amazing insight about our lives with AI. I only started reading Doctorow’s Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI, but I won’t lie I budged it to the top my reading list after watching this. Even if you are fed up of hearing about AI, this is a must read.
Public media and social networks?
Ian thinks: The digital public space or the public service internet. Both have been tried but like always, its about the timing. Maybe New_Public have it right this time? As there are a lot of events in the states which could really need stronger local news and communities. One to keep an eye on.
IKEA marketspace a good move or centralisation?
Ian thinks: I respect the points about trusted place especially when looking at the awful nightmare of Facebook marketplace. IKEA seem to be doing a solid for buyers and sellers. However I wonder about the centralisation of this all. There is a number of power plays they could put into action but time will tell, how successful it will be and how much control they will unleash? Dare I say enshittification…?
Is someone you know part of the grift economy?
Ian thinks: Following the Louis Threoux documentary about the Manosphere, the notion of grifting became a lot more common to most the internet users. Grifting isn’t anything new but the ecosystem which has grown around it is something super charged by the physiological super weapons of Gen AI. As usual the companies and people selling the tools are also benefitting off griffters. Just like people selling shoves during the gold rush.
Hetrosexual dating is broken beyond repair?
Ian thinks: As someone writing a book and building a new type of system to make connections more meaningful; I have found a lot of discussion about how straight dating is broken beyond repair, including one from the same Vox channel. This interview summaries a lot of the thoughts I have about this space. Yes its slightly broken (always was) but its turned up to 11 and echoed by the internet/social algorithms. Its not good and its a clear example of the real human effects, adding to the loneliness epidemic; even in part.
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