Commentary on links that caught my attention around the web.
Media
"In a media landscape dominated by algorithmic feeds that aim to manipulate and extract, sometimes the most radical thing you can do is choose to read what you want, when you want, without anyone watching over your shoulder."
AI
The Trump administration is using AI as a way to shill fossil fuels. But even for tech companies that don't care about climate change, renewables are a far better option.
AI
OpenAI claims a significant result: gold-level performance International Mathematical Olympiad. But they're scant on details and it needs to be independently verified.
Democracy
When vendor promises meet government warrants, the warrants win every time. Microsoft's Senate testimony shows why "trust us" isn't a data protection strategy.
Media
Without public media funding, local stations will close, creating news deserts and allowing political corruption to thrive.
Technology
Global Majority nations are building ways to store their citizens' data locally. But will they own the datacenters themselves?
Technology
Tony Stubblebine's account of saving Medium is remarkable in its transparency - and in its execution.
AI
"I do not have the time or emotional energy to screen out regular attacks by Large Language Models, with the knowledge that making the wrong decision costs a real human being their connection to a niche community."
Technology
It's wild to me how many people are still engaging with X.
AI
As more people look to AI to learn about the world, the people who control how it's trained and how it responds will control our prevailing narratives. That's wildly dangerous.
Society
Forget San Francisco - I wish every single US city would do this. We're too car-dependent, too isolated, too unhealthy. (Honestly, European mixed-use development should be the model.)
Notable Links
"The looming rapid expansion of federal surveillance may signal a step change on a trajectory set in motion after September 11, 2001, with broad implications for the rights and privacy of all Americans."