Pluralistic: AI turns Amazon coders into Amazon warehouse workers (27 May 2025)

Today's links

AI turns Amazon coders into Amazon warehouse workers: A reverse-centaur in the loop.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2024
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

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Pluralistic: AI can't do your job (18 Mar 2025)

Today's links

AI can't do your job: But an AI salesman can convince your boss to fire you and replace you with a chatbot that can't do your job.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

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Pluralistic: AI's productivity theater (25 Jul 2024)

Today's links

AI's productivity theater: AI CAN'T do your job, but an AI salesman CAN convince your boss to fire you and replace you with AI.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2014, 2019
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

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Pluralistic: AI is a WMD (09 May 2024)

Today's links

AI is a WMD: Advon is a force-multiplier for enshittification.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

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Pluralistic: Cigna's nopeinator (29 Apr 2024)

Today's links

Cigna's nopeinator: When computer says no, doctors are the moral crumple-zone.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

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Pluralistic: "Humans in the loop" must detect the hardest-to-spot errors, at superhuman speed (23 Apr 2024)

Today's links

"Humans in the loop" must detect the hardest-to-spot errors, at superhuman speed: The particular torments of reverse-centaurs are drastically under-theorized.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

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Pluralistic: Worker misclassification is a competition issue (02 Feb 2024)

Today's links

Worker misclassification is a competition issue: Corrupt employers created a market for lemons.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: The REAL AI automation threat to workers (11 Jan 2024)

Today's links

The real AI automation threat to workers: The robot can't replace you, but it CAN replace your shitty boss.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: Brian Merchant's "Blood In the Machine" (26 Sep 2023)

Today's links

Brian Merchant's "Blood In the Machine": Reclaiming the Luddites from the victors' history.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Automation is Magic

The Messy Business of Security Economics.

There is no such thing as security.

I’m not being a realist here (“there are no sure bets”) nor is this mere nihilism (“you will never be safe!”).

There is no such thing as security in the abstract.You cannot be generically secure — you can only be secure from something. A sprinkler system increases your security from fires, but not burglars. Not only that, but a sprinkler system reduces your security from water-damage.

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