The loser thinking issue
1. The Big Tech campaign to kill data protection in Europe
Big Tech have been lobbying like it’s going out of style to make sure changes are made to the GDPR that let them use our personal data for, among other things, training AI: “On average, lobbyists have been having three meetings with MEPs every working day”. Time to pester our MEPs again.
2. Google struggling to make AI Mode searches pay
Google wedges AI “answers” above search results. Resulting in less users looking at search results, meaning they see and click less ads. Users don’t click on search results either, meaning they don’t visit the sites where Google ads are also shown. That’s quite an act of self-sabotage from the people running the most profitable product in tech history.
3. Manifestos, Fear, and ‘Loser Thinking’: Inside Proton’s AI Reckoning
Proton CEO Andy Yen thinks testing software is “loser thinking” and that employees should “Stop lovingly handcrafting all our code and use AI more”. Just what you want to hear from a platform sold on its security and privacy merits. The more you read this article, the worse it gets.
4. A Defense Contractor Gave Their Personal AI Agent Access to a Secure Pentagon System
Luckily, the US ran out of missiles recently. It would be nice to have responsible adults again. Generative AI seems to bring out the stupid in so many people…
5. Desloppify
I see too many posters clearly generated with AI these days that my brain has learned to stop reading as soon as it spots the signs. Here’s an alternative for your next party or band gig: a bunch of nice templates you can edit online, then print a slop-free poster with.
On rotation
This week’s soundtrack is Jazz Dreams by Fine.
So long, and thanks for all the fish,
Colin