Baratunde
@baratunde.com
host, writer, & speaker exploring interdependence across our relationships with nature, each other, and technology. Latest project is the YouTube podcast "Life With Machines." Other work includes: PBS's America Outdoors, How To Citizen podcast, and Puck
This Saturday night I'm doing a solo talk/show at @calstate.bsky.social Long Beach. Will be talking about the future, tech, humanity, fascism. ALL the things. There will be jokes. www.carpenterarts.org/event/baratu...
An Evening with Baratunde Thurston
SAT, NOV 15, 2025 AT 8PMTickets
www.carpenterarts.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This Saturday night I'm doing a solo talk/show at @calstate.bsky.social Long Beach. Will be talking about the future, tech, humanity, fascism. ALL the things. There will be jokes. www.carpenterarts.org/event/baratu...
I thought racist texts were QUALIFYING to get a job in this administration. Serious question: why have these GOP senators decided to oppose Ingrassia when they have opposed almost nothing else Trump wants?
October 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I thought racist texts were QUALIFYING to get a job in this administration. Serious question: why have these GOP senators decided to oppose Ingrassia when they have opposed almost nothing else Trump wants?
Overhead from a TSA agent working security line at JFK this morning: "They're gonna start having the wheelchair assistants do security because of the shutdown. We're too shortstaffed."
HAPPY FLIGHTING!
HAPPY FLIGHTING!
October 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Overhead from a TSA agent working security line at JFK this morning: "They're gonna start having the wheelchair assistants do security because of the shutdown. We're too shortstaffed."
HAPPY FLIGHTING!
HAPPY FLIGHTING!
Reposted by Baratunde
"We don't have a President of the Untited States, we have a President of the Confederacy". Yup, that pretty much says it. And the actions tells it all.
Credit; @baratunde.com
Credit; @baratunde.com
August 29, 2025 at 11:33 PM
"We don't have a President of the Untited States, we have a President of the Confederacy". Yup, that pretty much says it. And the actions tells it all.
Credit; @baratunde.com
Credit; @baratunde.com
Reposted by Baratunde
Some news from the Life With Machines Cinematic Universe. We submitted a panel to SXSW 2026 to build off last year’s success. We propose to lean into the absurdity, comedy, and satire of this AI moment. Check it out and vote for participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx....
PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals
PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.
participate.sxsw.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Some news from the Life With Machines Cinematic Universe. We submitted a panel to SXSW 2026 to build off last year’s success. We propose to lean into the absurdity, comedy, and satire of this AI moment. Check it out and vote for participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx....
If you’re building the AI you think might destroy us… maybe you’re not the one who should “save” us from it. In this week's @lifewithmachines.bsky.social newsletter, we share news about Lighthaven, a semi-secret group in Berkeley. And other AI updates you should know. bit.ly/3UY4qt8
August 14, 2025 at 3:14 PM
If you’re building the AI you think might destroy us… maybe you’re not the one who should “save” us from it. In this week's @lifewithmachines.bsky.social newsletter, we share news about Lighthaven, a semi-secret group in Berkeley. And other AI updates you should know. bit.ly/3UY4qt8
In the future, kids may ask their grandparents, "Is it true that when you were young you used to think?" The rise of AI is pushing us to define what we want for our #LifeWithMachines. We're entering a new phase of this exploration. More clarity, critique, and creativity. Join us
bit.ly/3GY6D4z
bit.ly/3GY6D4z
July 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
In the future, kids may ask their grandparents, "Is it true that when you were young you used to think?" The rise of AI is pushing us to define what we want for our #LifeWithMachines. We're entering a new phase of this exploration. More clarity, critique, and creativity. Join us
bit.ly/3GY6D4z
bit.ly/3GY6D4z
AI is made of people. Data labelers, content moderators, gig workers. It's Soylent Green, all so we can convert angry emails into non-fireable communications
As @milamiceli.bsky.social shared, the more AI expands, the more human drudgery it creates. But it doesn't have to baratun.de/4eJjqEl
As @milamiceli.bsky.social shared, the more AI expands, the more human drudgery it creates. But it doesn't have to baratun.de/4eJjqEl
July 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
AI is made of people. Data labelers, content moderators, gig workers. It's Soylent Green, all so we can convert angry emails into non-fireable communications
As @milamiceli.bsky.social shared, the more AI expands, the more human drudgery it creates. But it doesn't have to baratun.de/4eJjqEl
As @milamiceli.bsky.social shared, the more AI expands, the more human drudgery it creates. But it doesn't have to baratun.de/4eJjqEl
Loved the convo on this pod. Check it out!
Listen to why @baratunde.com has hope for humanity when it comes to AI in this weeks brand new episode! Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube! Link in bio.
#ai #ethics #humanity #viral #foryou #explore #tech #ethicaltech
#ai #ethics #humanity #viral #foryou #explore #tech #ethicaltech
July 11, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Loved the convo on this pod. Check it out!
my favorite website is localhost
July 10, 2025 at 7:53 PM
my favorite website is localhost
Reposted by Baratunde
thank YOU!
Thank you, @baratunde.com, for illuminating history and putting this moment we are in now in a larger context. Reading: On America’s Birthday, Frederick Douglass, the Haudenosaunee, and Unrecognized Founders newsletter.baratunde.com/p/on-america...
On America’s Birthday, Frederick Douglass, the Haudenosaunee, and Unrecognized Founders
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July Still Slaps
newsletter.baratunde.com
July 8, 2025 at 11:41 PM
thank YOU!
Reposted by Baratunde
@vukosi.bsky.social you might enjoy this wonderful podcast by @baratunde.com podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
Can AI Save Indigenous Languages? | Michael Running Wolf (Ep. 25)
Podcast Episode · Life with Machines · 06/17/2025 · 1h 8m
podcasts.apple.com
June 22, 2025 at 5:10 PM
@vukosi.bsky.social you might enjoy this wonderful podcast by @baratunde.com podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
Reposted by Baratunde
"The big lie of AI?
It’s not intelligent.
It’s not autonomous.
It’s human-powered."
-- @baratunde.com www.instagram.com/reel/DLSv7IR...
It’s not intelligent.
It’s not autonomous.
It’s human-powered."
-- @baratunde.com www.instagram.com/reel/DLSv7IR...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"The big lie of AI?
It’s not intelligent.
It’s not autonomous.
It’s human-powered."
-- @baratunde.com www.instagram.com/reel/DLSv7IR...
It’s not intelligent.
It’s not autonomous.
It’s human-powered."
-- @baratunde.com www.instagram.com/reel/DLSv7IR...
Reposted by Baratunde
I had a great conversation with @baratunde.com on Life with Machines about the millions of data workers worldwide who produce the data that fuels AI. We dug into the scale of this labor, its deeply human costs, and the possibilities for something better.
Watch it here youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...
Watch it here youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...
June 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I had a great conversation with @baratunde.com on Life with Machines about the millions of data workers worldwide who produce the data that fuels AI. We dug into the scale of this labor, its deeply human costs, and the possibilities for something better.
Watch it here youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...
Watch it here youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...
Reposted by Baratunde
@milamiceli.bsky.social joined @baratunde.com on Life with Machines to talk about the Data Workers’ Inquiry, AI impersonation, and more. Check it out on YouTube: youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...
June 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
@milamiceli.bsky.social joined @baratunde.com on Life with Machines to talk about the Data Workers’ Inquiry, AI impersonation, and more. Check it out on YouTube: youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...
I was in downtown #losangeles at the beginning of this week. The streets had a way different feel from what’s been on my screens. No signs of insurrection just love and peace. For more check out this full post open.substack.com/pub/baratund...
June 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I was in downtown #losangeles at the beginning of this week. The streets had a way different feel from what’s been on my screens. No signs of insurrection just love and peace. For more check out this full post open.substack.com/pub/baratund...
Hi from downtown LA. We told yall. Folks said Trump wouldn’t do this. It’s the reason Hegseth was chosen. Because he would choose a man over the law. This was all so predicted. This is a mockery of whatever principles the US has claimed to uphold. This is an occupation. THIS is the invasion.
June 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Hi from downtown LA. We told yall. Folks said Trump wouldn’t do this. It’s the reason Hegseth was chosen. Because he would choose a man over the law. This was all so predicted. This is a mockery of whatever principles the US has claimed to uphold. This is an occupation. THIS is the invasion.
“If you’re going to protest, take biometric permissions off devices. Have a contact number memorized. Bring medication if you need it. Be realistic about your risk profile” via @freepress.bsky.social PDF guide here www.freepress.net/sites/defaul...
@freepress.bsky.social
@freepress.bsky.social
www.freepress.net
June 9, 2025 at 7:01 AM
“If you’re going to protest, take biometric permissions off devices. Have a contact number memorized. Bring medication if you need it. Be realistic about your risk profile” via @freepress.bsky.social PDF guide here www.freepress.net/sites/defaul...
@freepress.bsky.social
@freepress.bsky.social
May 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Siri: “something went wrong. Please try again.” That is literally the entire history of Siri. What an embarrassment.
May 24, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Siri: “something went wrong. Please try again.” That is literally the entire history of Siri. What an embarrassment.
Reposted by Baratunde
This was one of the most engaging (and bleakest, because the world...) deepfakes, AI and human rights conversations I've had - with @baratunde.com, who is knowledgeable, perceptive and funny and whose pet AI BLAIRwas very snarky....
#ai #lifewithmachines #deepfakes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucb8...
#ai #lifewithmachines #deepfakes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucb8...
Why Dictators Love AI & How To Fight Back | Sam Gregory (Ep. 21)
YouTube video by Baratunde Thurston
www.youtube.com
May 21, 2025 at 9:29 PM
This was one of the most engaging (and bleakest, because the world...) deepfakes, AI and human rights conversations I've had - with @baratunde.com, who is knowledgeable, perceptive and funny and whose pet AI BLAIRwas very snarky....
#ai #lifewithmachines #deepfakes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucb8...
#ai #lifewithmachines #deepfakes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucb8...
This edition of my latest transmission is about as good as it gets. If you're looking for grounded hope in these times, some laughs, and some channeling of ancient wisdom, check out my offering and attempt at all that. Thank you @bioneers.bsky.social for being such REAL ONES
🪵🔥 Since time immemorial, storytellers have held an exalted role in human societies.
In the latest Bioneers podcast episode, we hitch a ride with comedian, writer, futurist, technologist, and storyteller @baratunde.com to discuss. 🎧 Listen here: bioneers.org/declarations...
In the latest Bioneers podcast episode, we hitch a ride with comedian, writer, futurist, technologist, and storyteller @baratunde.com to discuss. 🎧 Listen here: bioneers.org/declarations...
Declarations of Interdependence: A Story of Storytelling - Bioneers
In this episode, we hitch a ride with comedian, writer, futurist, technologist, and storyteller Baratunde Thurston. At this perilous existential threshold that will determine the fate of the human exp...
bioneers.org
May 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
This edition of my latest transmission is about as good as it gets. If you're looking for grounded hope in these times, some laughs, and some channeling of ancient wisdom, check out my offering and attempt at all that. Thank you @bioneers.bsky.social for being such REAL ONES
Had some fiery words to share for Lord Zuckerberg after he broke friendship and is now trying to sell us fake friends as an AI substitute. Sad wannabe-mafioso behavior. See the full rant newsletter.lifewithmachines.media/p/this-isnt-...
May 20, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Had some fiery words to share for Lord Zuckerberg after he broke friendship and is now trying to sell us fake friends as an AI substitute. Sad wannabe-mafioso behavior. See the full rant newsletter.lifewithmachines.media/p/this-isnt-...