ai
AI’s Hidden Extraction Economy
We can’t unring the bell: How Labour and Knowledge Power “Intelligent” Machines
civil society
ai
AI, power, and why open institutions matter
Software and AI are never neutral; they can quietly lock in existing systems of control and power. To avoid surrendering autonomy to a few proprietary platforms, we need open, community‑governed institutions that keep AI accountable and share its benefits more fairly.
civil society
Chat GPT changes everything (and some of it is bad)
The world has been on the brink of revolutionary technological change for a while now and Chat GPT and related generative AI technologies might just have tipped us over into a brave new world. Ordinary folks are starting to see the power and possibilities with AI. We are about to
civil society
Never give in
“...never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Churchill, Speeches: Never Give In, Never 29
civil society
The influencer economy
In my previous post, Radical shifts in the media economy, I spoke of the changes that have arisen in the media landscape, touched upon the democratization of communication, and mentioned the emergence of the influencer economy. Today I am going to delve into the influencer economy and some of its
civil society
Radical shifts in the media economy
Radical shifts in the media economy: Social media has delivered an enormous shock to civil society in the West. It has been weaponised by nations who do not love democracy and the freedoms that we have come to enjoy. Back in 2007, when I predicted the great democratization of communication
civil society
Occupy Wall Street Activist Slams Fox News Producer In Un-Aired Interview
As the various Occupy protests fan out around the world many of us are trying to make sense of them, and to ascertain into which particular mental box these protests ought to go. This interview of Jesse LaGreca, a vocal member of the Occupy Wall Street protests and writer for
civil society
Are we living in the age of rage?
There are so many angry people these days. It's something I don't really remember from my youth and childhood. Only in recent years does it seem that everyone is angry. I've been trying to understand why there should be more anger now than in
civil society
What kind of zombies have we created?
I was reading Bill Bonner's recent post Zombies Born of Government Spending where he posits the notion of zombies in our economy. As Bill defines it: "In economic terms, a zombie is a parasite. He contributes less to the economy than he takes from it. He lives
civil society
Riots, desire, consumerism, community and values.
Want is a funny word. It can mean different things, such as: "absence or deficiency of something desirable or requisite" or "to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness", or "to feel a need or a desire for; wish for&
civil society
London riots: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
It seems strange watching the sad events unfolding in the United Kingdom from such a distance. With the spreading riots, looting, and mob violence it is apt to recall the words of Charles Dickens describing turbulent times past: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of
civil society
Dissent and Securing Freedom - Aung San Suu Kyi shares her ideas
Over the weekend I listened to this moving talk from the Burmese pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, where she examines what drives people to dissent. Reflecting on the history of her own party, the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, examines the