AI
"Cognitive surrender" leads AI users to abandon logical thinking, research finds
"Experiments show large majorities uncritically accepting “faulty” AI answers." Increasingly, incentive structures are asking them to.
Ben Werdmuller
Ben Werdmuller helps leaders at newsrooms, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations to navigate their biggest technology challenges.
Notable links
Notable links: April 3, 2026
A dystopian week, with a glimmer of hope: alternatives are available.
Technology
The open web isn't dying. We're killing it
Julien Genestoux thinks the open web needs netizens. I agree – and in 2026, that's indistinguishable from citizenry.
AI
An AI company set out to fix news deserts. Instead, it copied local journalists’ work
"Nota shut down its news sites after Axios and Poynter found dozens of plagiarized quotes, phrases and photos."
Technology
LinkedIn Is Illegally Searching Your Computer
LinkedIn is using invasive techniques to fingerprint your browser. Together with its understanding of your identity and professional history, it has the ingredients for an incredibly detailed profile.
Future of News
Surf demonstrates the power of the open social web
Flipboard's browser for the open social web is out for web users today.
Democracy
What Digital Isolation and Censorship Evasion Look Like In Wartime Iran
"Four weeks into the war, Iran is plummeting toward total digital isolation with its internet blocked and communications heavily restricted and monitored." And it's part of a bigger trend.
AI
The Right Is Using AI Content Scanners to Try to Supercharge Book Banning
"Groups that challenge books have begun using Gemini, ChatGPT, xAI, and other AI tools to try to get books banned." The point is to create a chilling effect.
Technology
An alternate history of social media
I joined Rabble on the Revolution.Social podcast.
Technology
Building trust in the open at ONA 2026
A new white paper about building open communities for news.
Technology
Bluesky leans into AI with Attie, an app for building custom feeds
Bluesky's new service isn't about AI; it's about accessibility.
Democracy
The DOJ thinks news is contraband
By treating source materials as contraband, the DOJ is putting both journalism and democracy at risk.