Pluralistic: Why aren't AI companies competing directly with their customers? (13 Jul 2026)

Today's links

Why aren't AI companies competing directly with their customers? Why sell picks and shovels if you've already struck gold?
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Pro-logging Lorax; Anti-DRM picture book; Whose cops did America train? Day on a Device; Theresa May x Fresh Prince; Ratfucking Corbyn supporters; Infosec v W3C DRM; Remix Public Enemy; Hungary's Cold War cartoons; America is unpaving its roads; Olympic overruns are world champions; Vivendi lobbyist is now UN copyright boss; Boris's racism; Facebook's insider stalkers; Semantic drift, ethical drift.
Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Why aren't AI companies competing directly with their customers? (13 Jul 2026)"

Pluralistic: CARDiac, syntax coloring, view source and vibe code (03 Jul 2026)

Today's links

CARDiac, syntax coloring, view source and vibe code: With great abstraction comes great power comes great responsibility comes great loss of fidelity.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Real elections v reality TV; Copyright troll loses license; Who gets fed housing subsidies? Trump x forced labor.
Upcoming appearances: London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: CARDiac, syntax coloring, view source and vibe code (03 Jul 2026)"

Pluralistic: The difference between "today's task" and "accretive work" (02 Jul 2026)

Today's links

The difference between "today's task" and "accretive work": Sometimes, "I got it working" is fine, but sometimes it isn't.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Series of tubes; Paralyzed teen beaten bloody by TSA; "Ultra unreal" Chinese lit; London property prices v Brexit; Biden v surprise billing; "Feeding Ghosts."
Upcoming appearances: London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: The difference between "today's task" and "accretive work" (02 Jul 2026)"

Pluralistic: Gemini is better than search because Google enshittified search (29 Jun 2026)

Today's links

Gemini is better than search because Google enshittified search: We're All Trying To Find The Guy Who Did This.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Microsoft antitrust overturned; Scammer carves C64; RIP Jim Baen; GOP rep to constituent's child: "drop dead" (literally); CCTVs jacked for botnet; Olympic profitability lie; Human factors in health infosec; Exfiltration via computer fans; Congress's summer schedule: 9 working days; Antitrust is political antigrav; Ted Chiang's 72 Letters; Microsoft antitrust appeal; Vinge on privacy; Breaking open the web; Bernie on Brexit; "The Perdition Score"; Intuit v Child Tax Credit.
Upcoming appearances: London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Gemini is better than search because Google enshittified search (29 Jun 2026)"

Pluralistic: AI digital sovereignty risk doesn't exist (18 Jun 2026)

Today's links

AI digital sovereignty risk doesn't exist: If 'risk + AI = risk – AI', then 'AI = 0'.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Napster x librarians; Flickr API reciprocity; KFC's Mega Jug v diabetes research; Hambone virtuoso; Google fiber x binding arbitration; "The Immortal Choir Holds Every Voice."
Upcoming appearances: LA, Menlo Park, Toronto, NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago, London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: AI digital sovereignty risk doesn't exist (18 Jun 2026)"

Pluralistic: The (real) dead economy theory (17 Jun 2026)

Today's links

The (real) dead economy theory: Vibes and memestocks, all the way down.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Jim Baen has had a stroke; Blame Apple for iTunes DRM; France v the internet; "Rotters"; 1901 undersea cables; Washington Post wants Trump coverage blackout; Taxes are for the little people; Gamer lifecycle; Ghanian postal song; "What Lies Beneath the Clock Tower": Murder of Jo Cox; 12 year old doxed by anti-vaxers; Hong Kong bookseller recants forced confession.
Upcoming appearances: LA, Menlo Park, Toronto, NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago, London, Edinburgh, Brighton, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: The (real) dead economy theory (17 Jun 2026)"

Pluralistic: AI and amateurism (15 Jun 2026)

Today's links

AI and amateurism: When is generative content vernacular?
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Disney characters x clean underwear; Transparent Pontiac; Makers v dog with LED collar; Microsoft buys Linkedin; Legitimate greatness.
Upcoming appearances: LA, Menlo Park, Toronto, NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Edinburgh, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: AI and amateurism (15 Jun 2026)"

Pluralistic: Criticizing the everything machine (06 Jun 2026)

Today's links

Criticizing the everything machine: It slices, it dices, it even makes paperclips!
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Parliament v DRM; Colbert's commencement; Counterfeiting x luxury goods; Joule thief; Lean-back media.
Upcoming appearances: Kansas City, LA, Menlo Park, Toronto, NYC, Edinburgh, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Criticizing the everything machine (06 Jun 2026)"

Pluralistic: Refining humanity (05 Jun 2026)

Today's links

Refining humanity: What our technology is shows us what we're not.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: GNU Radio; France v "follow us on Twitter"; Aaronsw vindicated; Capitalism's crooked refs.
Upcoming appearances: Kansas City, LA, Menlo Park, Toronto, NYC, Edinburgh, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Refining humanity (05 Jun 2026)"

Pluralistic: Delusion as a service (04 Jun 2026)

Today's links

Delusion as a service: Destructive diagnostics.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Gay Days at Disney World; Parametric 3D printable key; Fine against sculpture for "storing bike on public property"; TPP is a wash; Reagan was Trump; Steampunk roadster; "Every Heart a Doorway"; Shoplifters x Tumblr; Amazon v mass arbitration; Driver-owned Uber alternative; Censorware censors criticism of censorware; 3 strikes copyright termination is illegal; Replacing al Qaeda bomb recipes with cakes; $10m grilled cheese platform; Dick van Dyke x Bernie; Efficiency is inefficient; I quit.
Upcoming appearances: Kansas City, LA, Menlo Park, Toronto, NYC, Edinburgh, South Bend.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Delusion as a service (04 Jun 2026)"