AI
Hiring in an era of fake candidates, real scams and AI slop
"Red flags that both job seekers and employers should watch for, in an era of AI slop and application scams."
Ben Werdmuller
Ben Werdmuller helps leaders at newsrooms, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations to navigate their biggest technology challenges.
Notable links
Notable links: Jan 24, 2026
What does the future of engineering look like? And more.
Technology
On ICE, Verification, and Presence As Harm
"Bluesky built a verification system designed to distribute trust, and then didn't use it when it mattered."
AI
The Five Levels: from Spicy Autocomplete to the Software Factory
"I’ve now seen dozens of companies struggling to put AI to work writing code, and each one has moved through five clear tiers of automation. That felt familiar."
Business
The Forwardable Email
"A way to help others actually make that connection they said they would." I've used this for a decade, and it's probably useful for you, too.
Technology
Funding Open Source for Digital Sovereignty
"Open Source alone won't deliver digital sovereignty. Europe must fix procurement and fund those who actually build it."
Technology
Who owns your data?
A Supreme Court case about a bank robbery could redefine your digital rights.
Democracy
Remembering Beyond Vietnam on MLK Day
A good friend introduced me to Martin Luther King Jr's Beyond Vietnam speech some time ago. It was not well-received by the mainstream press at the time (more about that in a moment) but I think it's prescient and, unfortunately, timely. At the Riverside Church in
Notable links
Notable links: January 16, 2026
An occupation in Minnesota and finding your way to work that doesn't harm
Democracy
Remarks on the Federal Government’s Ongoing Presence in Minnesota
“It is a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government." So record it.
Business
The Curiosity Tour
"A way to approach a job hunt that uncovers extraordinary, unlisted opportunities" - using a distilled framework that makes something that might look daunting feel easy.
Democracy
‘ELITE’: The Palantir App ICE Uses to Find Neighborhoods to Raid
"Internal ICE material and testimony from an official obtained by 404 Media provides the clearest link yet between the technological infrastructure Palantir is building for ICE and the agency’s activities on the ground."