Notable links: October 16, 2026
AI in news for innovation – but not for writing. Plus: open social web election dashboards & how to run a great 1:1.
Latest
Current Affairs says it's banning AI
Current Affairs has enshrined tough restrictions on publishing using generative AI into its union contract. It's bet is that it will publish better journalism that way.
Treat your 1:1 relationships with intention
Too often, 1:1s can be reactive, unstructured spaces - or simple status reports that don't give the relationship time to breathe. This advice changes that dynamic.
Argentina's top news app was made by two 23 year olds using AI
46% of Argentine adults avoid the news. These 23 year olds vibe coded a solution that's turned into the most popular news app in the country.
Young people trust AI more than the people in their lives.
48% of young people who use AI trust it more than the humans in their lives.
Graze's election night dashboard demonstrates the power of open algorithms
"Every federal and gubernatorial race, by name and by state, read from what people are actually saying" - all powered by the open social web.
The space to breathe
The people who can see journalism most clearly are the people who have the least time and space to solve its problems.
Amazon tries to placate data center protesters
Amazon's concessions indicate that data center protests are working. But the company is offering less than pocket change.
The Lenfest AI Collaborative has additional funding. That's great for open source in news.
The Lenfest AI Collaborative lets newsrooms explore a new technology together - but more importantly, it gives them the muscle to open source their work and collaborate.
The Public Ledger of Credentials directory is taking flight
By taking identity resolution to an independent organization, Bluesky is securing the future of its network, and of AT Protocol.
Trump TV is the only source of footage of the President. That may be exactly what he wants.
In the same week, the President banned three networks from the White House - and started his own. It's not a coincidence that this happened so close to the midterms.
Seeking a "yes, and" space
How the JSK Fellowship is putting me in a more generative culture.
Personal
Buy my house!
My 1925 Tudor on half an acre in Elkins Park, PA is up for sale. Here's why I loved living in it
Link roundups
Notable links: September 11, 2026
Behind the power dynamics in AI and news – and is your TV spying on you?
AI
Two more newsrooms are suing OpenAI. It's complicated.
Publishers are suing AI vendors, accusing them of theft. But are they giving the creators responsible for building their value a fair deal?
Democracy
Your TV is spying on you, and it's worse than you think.
In a world where predictive policing is becoming more commonplace, TVs that report on what you're watching, record you using live mics, and scan your network for connected devices are a liability.
AI
AI companies are at risk of making Silicon Valley's harmful mistakes all over again
Years ago, Facebook's lack of care for global communities made them complicit in a genocide. AI companies risk making the same mistakes.
Link roundups
Notable links: August 14, 2026
Chicago Public Media is building a social network for America's third largest city. Forget AI - this is the thing I'm most excited about in news technology.
Media
Chicago's social network is a huge bet for news. I think it's the future.
Chicago Public Media is building a social network for America's third largest city. Forget AI - this is the thing I'm most excited about in news technology.
Media
My next experiment
I'm spending a year at Stanford to explore community platforms in news.
Link roundups
Notable links: July 31, 2026
Change is fractal; data ownership can be collective.
Media
Change is fractal. It starts with leaders
"Leaders are leverage. Every leader is a multiplier, if they choose to be."
Democracy
Don't bring sensitive data to a border crossing
The DOJ is trying to prosecute Sam Tunick for allegedly using a duress passcode. It's a lesson in why your best protection is having nothing to protect.
AI
Can data collectives help strengthen vulnerable cultures in the face of AI?
"Data collectives and cooperatives, which let creators control the collection and distribution of their data, are emerging as preferred alternatives to big tech companies."