Pluralistic: AI's pogo-stick grift (02 Aug 2025)

Today's links

AI's pogo-stick grift: The hard part is operating in an unpredictable, adversarial, unstructured world.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Galaksija, TSA shock-wand, Reverse-centaur apocalypse.
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.

Iranian brickwork, arbitrated pillows, smothered comics, and aerogel desalination: Also: bricked exercise gear, Air Canada luggage mystery, and praise for *Enshittification*.
Object permanence: Unix War on Terror; Massive PVR; NIST meth lab; Georgia calls Carl Malamud a terrorist; Private equity destroys value; Facebook's poor morale; Surveillance pricing; NYC after Craigslist; D&D existentialism; Mexico vs US copyright; AI's productivity theater
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.

The housing emergency and the second Trump term: Weaponized shelter gave us Trump II; can we fix it despite Trumpism?
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.

The largest campaign finance violation in US history: The "greater fools" election.
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.

How America's oligarchs lull us with the be-your-own-boss fairy tale: Temporarily embarrassed millionaires aren't born, they're made.
Come see me on tour!: LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Boston, New York City, Toronto, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Chicago, Amherst, Torino, Tartu.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

What kind of bubble is AI?: My latest column for Locus Magazine.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2013, 2018, 2022
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

The AI hype bubble is the new crypto hype bubble: Someday, we're gonna feel pretty silly about our autocomplete worship.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2022
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Imagining the end of capitalism: TINA, TAPAS, and Ministry for the Future.
Charlie Jane Anders' Victories Greater Than Death: YA space opera that is thoroughly modern and crackling with adventure.
Right-Clicker-Mentality: Bezzlers coin a phrase to describe the anti-bezzle.
This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Criti-Hype: Tech bros will settle for "evil genius."
Right to Repair is back for 2021: Will Apple sabotage this one too?
The free market and rent-seeking: Unauthorized bread and poor doors.
This day in history: 2011, 2016
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading