Friday links for July 31st 2026

The “noise” issue

1. Amazon accidentally spent $1.8 million using Claude for menial coding task, went 860% over budget

Amazon management several months ago: “You must use generative AI everywhere, we’ve even set up a leaderboard.” – Amazon management today: “No, not like that!”

2. LinkedIn Introduces a 'Seems Like AI Slop' Button

Using that button properly would give you a repetitive strain injury pretty quickly.

3. A missing underscore sent innocent man to prison for 18 months

This is how the Terry Gilliam film Brazil starts. With a typewriter error, followed by bureaucracy doing its thing.

4. Neighbors say noise from Michigan data center is 24/7 and upending their lives (video)

If you were wondering what living next to a data centre sounds like. Spoiler: it’s like living inside a dentist’s drill.

5. Jules Vernacular ~ herbier typographique

And a nice escape from the digital world: more lovely photographs of artisan typefaces in situ all over France.

On rotation

This week’s soundtrack is Mirages 2 by JB Dunckel & Jonathan Fitoussi.

Out like a trout, without a doubt,
Colin