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Ben Werdmuller

Ben Werdmuller

NotableLinks

On the need for low-carbon and sustainable computing and the path towards zero-carbon computing

"As a society we need to start treating computational resources as finite and precious, to be utilised only when necessary, and as effectively as possible. We need frugal computing: achieving our aims with less energy and material."  #Climate [Link]

13 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

Six Months Ago NPR Left Twitter. The Effects Have Been Negligible

One organization I know audited their social media use and learned that Twitter had their worst effort:reward ratio. This seems to support that finding.  #Media [Link]

11 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

Public corruption prosecutions rise where nonprofit news outlets flourish, research finds

"Prosecutions for public corruption are more likely in U.S. communities served by a nonprofit news outlet, a relatively new business model that often aims to fill the void left by shuttered traditional local newspapers." Journalism in the public interest works.  #Media [Link]

11 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

Engage a Wider Audience With ActivityPub on WordPress.com

Every hosted WordPress site - millions and millions of sites - can now be first-class members of the fediverse. This is a huge deal that has the potential to change the whole web.  #Technology [Link]

11 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

23andMe user data targeting Ashkenazi Jews leaked online

Pretty much the worst thing that could happen as an outcome of using a service like this.  #Technology [Link]

09 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence

"Advances in AI are amplifying a crisis for human rights online. While AI technology offers exciting and beneficial uses for science, education, and society at large, its uptake has also increased the scale, speed, and efficiency of digital repression. Automated systems have enabled governments to conduct more precise and

09 Oct 2023

Re-introducing comments

This blog has had kind of a weird relationship with comments since I started it ten years ago. My previous blogs, in contrast, have always intentionally been spaces that can be homes for conversations. Over the years lots of people have asked me to fix this situation. So, okay! Here’

09 Oct 2023

Spinning a tech career into writing

I have a lot of admiration for Eliot Peper, who has spun a career in tech into a career in writing science fiction novels rooted in the intersection of technology and society. They’re fun reads, first and foremost, but there’s always an insight into how technology is made,

09 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

AGI Researchers Stop Quoting White Supremacists Challenge (Impossible)

White supremacist rhetoric is endemic in AI research. An interesting (and complex) point is also made here about preprint journal sites and how they allow companies to whitewash embarrassing mistakes.  #AI [Link]

09 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

X/Twitter may be terrible, but it’s still the go-to place for certain types of conversations

This is still a widely-held sentiment. What do we need to build for this not to be true?  #Media [Link]

07 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

Jawboned

Jawboning tech companies is part of a much bigger trend of government influencing the private sector to accomplish what it can't legislatively. These are suggestions to curb and regulate the practice - but do they acknowledge the societal failures of the tech companies themselves? #Democracy [Link]

06 Oct 2023

NotableLinks

Teens Love LinkedIn

I no longer think the kids are alright.  #Technology [Link]

06 Oct 2023
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Werd I/O explores the intersection of technology, democracy, and society. It's independently published by Ben Werdmuller, reader-supported, and always free to read.