Pluralistic: The AI hype bubble is the new crypto hype bubble (09 Mar 2023)

Today's links

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: The AI hype bubble is the new crypto hype bubble (09 Mar 2023)"

Bankruptcy protects fake people, brutalizes real ones

Debts that can’t be paid, won’t be paid.

A robotic hand wielding a gavel; the gavel is smashing the face of a terrified person. — Victor Bezrukov, CC BY 2.0 (modified) and Vitalik Radko/Deposit Photos, free license (modified)

“Debts that can’t be paid, won’t be paid.” There, in eight simple words, we have Michael Hudson’s key insight into the role debt and debt cancellation plays in the rise and fall of human civilizations.

Debts are inescapable.

In order to provide a society with its necessities — food, shelter, energy — producers need the inputs (seed, fertilizer, materials, tools) before they have the means to buy them.

In order to produce, producers must borrow.

Continue reading "Bankruptcy protects fake people, brutalizes real ones"

By reading this website, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer.