Brian Merchant
@bcmerchant.bsky.social
author of Blood in the Machine, tech writer, luddite
newsletter: https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/
books: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/brian-merchant/
kofi link: https://ko-fi.com/brianmerchant
newsletter: https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/
books: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/brian-merchant/
kofi link: https://ko-fi.com/brianmerchant
Pinned
Brian Merchant
@bcmerchant.bsky.social
· Nov 12
One year of Blood in the Machine (the book)
On a year of rehabilitating the luddites, resisting AI, and beginning to build a better future
www.bloodinthemachine.com
Well hello all, and thanks for giving me a follow over here, and to the starter pack creators who kindly included me.
I'm a tech journalist, critic, and author of Blood in the Machine, a book + newsletter about breaking oppressive machines:
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/one-year-o...
I'm a tech journalist, critic, and author of Blood in the Machine, a book + newsletter about breaking oppressive machines:
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/one-year-o...
Before I sign off for the rest of the year, I am pleased to present the complete and 100% correct BLOOD IN THE MACHINE guide to the best books, TV and film about AI and tech in 2025 (that I managed to read/watch).
Enjoy, and happy holidays everyone
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/the-best-b...
Enjoy, and happy holidays everyone
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/the-best-b...
The best books, films and TV that tackled AI + tech in 2025
The Great Blood in the Machine Guide to All Media
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Before I sign off for the rest of the year, I am pleased to present the complete and 100% correct BLOOD IN THE MACHINE guide to the best books, TV and film about AI and tech in 2025 (that I managed to read/watch).
Enjoy, and happy holidays everyone
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/the-best-b...
Enjoy, and happy holidays everyone
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/the-best-b...
Reposted by Brian Merchant
NEW: A variety of military and intelligence contractors have already signed on to help ICE's immigrant bounty hunter program. A review of procurement data shows 10 companies stand to make up to *ONE BILLION* dollars from the program by 2027. theintercept.com/2025/12/23/i...
10 Companies Have Already Made $1 Million as ICE Bounty Hunters. We Found Them.
And they stand to make millions more in cash bonuses for surveilling and tracking immigrants in service of ICE’s deportation machine.
theintercept.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:40 PM
NEW: A variety of military and intelligence contractors have already signed on to help ICE's immigrant bounty hunter program. A review of procurement data shows 10 companies stand to make up to *ONE BILLION* dollars from the program by 2027. theintercept.com/2025/12/23/i...
Was pleased to take the opportunity to contribute to Max's round up to write about the only thing I really wanted to write about all year: the best death metal songs about AI
30 lists and 15,000 words to round out the year from (among others) @tomscocca.bsky.social ! @bcmerchant.bsky.social ! @caseyjohnston.bsky.social ! @taylorlorenz.bsky.social ! @choire.bsky.social ! @rilaws.bsky.social ! @libbycwatson.com ! @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social !
The Read Max year in review 2025
Over 30 lists and 15,000 words from Read Max friends, foes, and family
maxread.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Was pleased to take the opportunity to contribute to Max's round up to write about the only thing I really wanted to write about all year: the best death metal songs about AI
Reposted by Brian Merchant
Highly recommend this Year in Review of books, shows and films best exemplifying our relationships and concerns about tech, labor, ethics, sustainability and more
By @bcmerchant.bsky.social, subscribe to him, it’s worth it!
By @bcmerchant.bsky.social, subscribe to him, it’s worth it!
“As @jacobsilverman.com puts it in his book, these tech titans ‘had the world at their fingertips and they couldn’t stand the touch.’”
@bcmerchant.bsky.social @emilymbender.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social @jathansadowski.com @hagenblix.bsky.social
@bcmerchant.bsky.social @emilymbender.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social @jathansadowski.com @hagenblix.bsky.social
The best books, films and TV that tackled AI + tech in 2025
The Great Blood in the Machine Guide to All Media
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Highly recommend this Year in Review of books, shows and films best exemplifying our relationships and concerns about tech, labor, ethics, sustainability and more
By @bcmerchant.bsky.social, subscribe to him, it’s worth it!
By @bcmerchant.bsky.social, subscribe to him, it’s worth it!
Reposted by Brian Merchant
“As @jacobsilverman.com puts it in his book, these tech titans ‘had the world at their fingertips and they couldn’t stand the touch.’”
@bcmerchant.bsky.social @emilymbender.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social @jathansadowski.com @hagenblix.bsky.social
@bcmerchant.bsky.social @emilymbender.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social @jathansadowski.com @hagenblix.bsky.social
The best books, films and TV that tackled AI + tech in 2025
The Great Blood in the Machine Guide to All Media
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:24 PM
“As @jacobsilverman.com puts it in his book, these tech titans ‘had the world at their fingertips and they couldn’t stand the touch.’”
@bcmerchant.bsky.social @emilymbender.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social @jathansadowski.com @hagenblix.bsky.social
@bcmerchant.bsky.social @emilymbender.bsky.social @alexhanna.bsky.social @jathansadowski.com @hagenblix.bsky.social
Join us later today as we chew through a year that, thanks in part to the tech oligarchy and its AI, has been at least a decade long.
Live chat will be for paid subscribers of Blood in the Machine, @techwontsave.us, and This Machine Kills, and will be posted in full afterwards.
Live chat will be for paid subscribers of Blood in the Machine, @techwontsave.us, and This Machine Kills, and will be posted in full afterwards.
It’s been a wild year — and we need to break it down!
Join @parismarx.com, @jathansadowski.com, @bcmerchant.bsky.social, and @edwardongwesojr.com tomorrow at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm GMT for a livestream to wrap up the year in tech.
Become a Patreon supporter to join us: patreon.com/techwontsaveus
Join @parismarx.com, @jathansadowski.com, @bcmerchant.bsky.social, and @edwardongwesojr.com tomorrow at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm GMT for a livestream to wrap up the year in tech.
Become a Patreon supporter to join us: patreon.com/techwontsaveus
December 19, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Join us later today as we chew through a year that, thanks in part to the tech oligarchy and its AI, has been at least a decade long.
Live chat will be for paid subscribers of Blood in the Machine, @techwontsave.us, and This Machine Kills, and will be posted in full afterwards.
Live chat will be for paid subscribers of Blood in the Machine, @techwontsave.us, and This Machine Kills, and will be posted in full afterwards.
Reposted by Brian Merchant
Excited for the year-end @techwontsave.us live stream and the great guests who will be joining me to round out the year!
Become a Patreon supporter to join us live! Otherwise, wait for it to be posted as a podcast episode next week.
Become a Patreon supporter to join us live! Otherwise, wait for it to be posted as a podcast episode next week.
It’s been a wild year — and we need to break it down!
Join @parismarx.com, @jathansadowski.com, @bcmerchant.bsky.social, and @edwardongwesojr.com tomorrow at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm GMT for a livestream to wrap up the year in tech.
Become a Patreon supporter to join us: patreon.com/techwontsaveus
Join @parismarx.com, @jathansadowski.com, @bcmerchant.bsky.social, and @edwardongwesojr.com tomorrow at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm GMT for a livestream to wrap up the year in tech.
Become a Patreon supporter to join us: patreon.com/techwontsaveus
December 18, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Excited for the year-end @techwontsave.us live stream and the great guests who will be joining me to round out the year!
Become a Patreon supporter to join us live! Otherwise, wait for it to be posted as a podcast episode next week.
Become a Patreon supporter to join us live! Otherwise, wait for it to be posted as a podcast episode next week.
Reposted by Brian Merchant
What’s the equivalent of composting AI? 😆
December 19, 2025 at 8:06 PM
What’s the equivalent of composting AI? 😆
Reposted by Brian Merchant
I’m sadly reminded of one of my favourite Mad Men characters, who foresaw his own obsolescence.
December 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I’m sadly reminded of one of my favourite Mad Men characters, who foresaw his own obsolescence.
Reposted by Brian Merchant
December 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Brian Merchant
“It is, in other words, perfectly feasible for AI companies to document copyrighted works and to ask them to rightfully credit their creators—and, if the courts rule that training on such material is *not* fair use, to compensate them.”
Last week, hundreds of creative workers amassed at a public hearing for an AI transparency bill to testify how AI was corroding their lives. Days later, Disney cut a deal with OpenAI, and Trump moved to stamp out state AI laws.
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
There has to be a way
On the future of art and labor in the age of American AI and authoritarianism.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
“It is, in other words, perfectly feasible for AI companies to document copyrighted works and to ask them to rightfully credit their creators—and, if the courts rule that training on such material is *not* fair use, to compensate them.”
Reposted by Brian Merchant
Excellent, thorough reporting (as usual) from Brian Merchant that provides a good overview of the current state of AI, potential legislation, and Hollywood.
Last week, hundreds of creative workers amassed at a public hearing for an AI transparency bill to testify how AI was corroding their lives. Days later, Disney cut a deal with OpenAI, and Trump moved to stamp out state AI laws.
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
There has to be a way
On the future of art and labor in the age of American AI and authoritarianism.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Excellent, thorough reporting (as usual) from Brian Merchant that provides a good overview of the current state of AI, potential legislation, and Hollywood.
2024's word of the year was 'enshittification' was and 2025's is 'slop'. Either next year the word is something like 'encrusted' or we figure out a way to bury the garbage or use it as fuel for something more productive
Merriam-Webster’s human editors have chosen ‘slop’ as the 2025 Word of the Year.
December 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
2024's word of the year was 'enshittification' was and 2025's is 'slop'. Either next year the word is something like 'encrusted' or we figure out a way to bury the garbage or use it as fuel for something more productive
Reposted by Brian Merchant
Very disappointed in the new Nebula Award eligibility information from SFWA that allows partially-generated works to be on the ballot. See 9.11.2.
www.sfwa.org/complete-neb...
This shouldn't be difficult. #noAI
www.sfwa.org/complete-neb...
This shouldn't be difficult. #noAI
December 19, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Very disappointed in the new Nebula Award eligibility information from SFWA that allows partially-generated works to be on the ballot. See 9.11.2.
www.sfwa.org/complete-neb...
This shouldn't be difficult. #noAI
www.sfwa.org/complete-neb...
This shouldn't be difficult. #noAI
Reposted by Brian Merchant
Reposted by Brian Merchant
@Brian Merchant at Blood in the Machine has been doing powerful reporting on the carnage across many professions, thanks to AI and bosses eager to use its slop instead of paying humans. www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/i-was-forc...
"I was forced to use AI until the day I was laid off." Copywriters reveal how AI has decimated their industry
Copywriters were one of the first to have their jobs targeted by AI firms. These are their stories, three years into the AI era.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
@Brian Merchant at Blood in the Machine has been doing powerful reporting on the carnage across many professions, thanks to AI and bosses eager to use its slop instead of paying humans. www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/i-was-forc...
Reposted by Brian Merchant
"The industry’s relentless, thoughtless expansion strains to conceal a lack of imagination, a confidence of vision; in fact, the desperation suggests a brittleness, a weakness. And what might fill the void should the AI bubble burst?"
Last week, hundreds of creative workers amassed at a public hearing for an AI transparency bill to testify how AI was corroding their lives. Days later, Disney cut a deal with OpenAI, and Trump moved to stamp out state AI laws.
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
There has to be a way
On the future of art and labor in the age of American AI and authoritarianism.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
"The industry’s relentless, thoughtless expansion strains to conceal a lack of imagination, a confidence of vision; in fact, the desperation suggests a brittleness, a weakness. And what might fill the void should the AI bubble burst?"
Awful.
French publishing house Harlequin decided to use AI translation instead of human translations.
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
December 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Awful.
Reposted by Brian Merchant
“…the feature helps Ring determine who is visiting your house based on their apparel, actions, and what they are holding, and responds accordingly.”
Doorbells with dress codes now. 🤷🏿♂️
Doorbells with dress codes now. 🤷🏿♂️
Amazon's new Alexa+ feature adds conversational AI to Ring doorbells | TechCrunch
Amazon said that the feature uses the Ring doorbell's video descriptions to determine who the person in front of the camera is based on their uniform, actions, and what they are holding.
techcrunch.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
“…the feature helps Ring determine who is visiting your house based on their apparel, actions, and what they are holding, and responds accordingly.”
Doorbells with dress codes now. 🤷🏿♂️
Doorbells with dress codes now. 🤷🏿♂️
Reposted by Brian Merchant
We can do even more.
December 17, 2025 at 8:05 AM
We can do even more.
Reposted by Brian Merchant
NEW: ICE has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to a company that makes “AI agents” to rapidly track down targets.
AI Solutions 87 did not respond to a request for comment on how its AI agents work.
AI Solutions 87 did not respond to a request for comment on how its AI agents work.
ICE Contracts Company Making Bounty Hunter AI Agents
AI Solutions 87 says on its website its AI agents “deliver rapid acceleration in finding persons of interest and mapping their entire network.”
www.404media.co
December 18, 2025 at 5:53 PM
NEW: ICE has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to a company that makes “AI agents” to rapidly track down targets.
AI Solutions 87 did not respond to a request for comment on how its AI agents work.
AI Solutions 87 did not respond to a request for comment on how its AI agents work.
Reposted by Brian Merchant
Within 15 minutes today, I got two back-to-back notifications of deaths at ICE facilities.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
December 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Within 15 minutes today, I got two back-to-back notifications of deaths at ICE facilities.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
Last week, hundreds of creative workers amassed at a public hearing for an AI transparency bill to testify how AI was corroding their lives. Days later, Disney cut a deal with OpenAI, and Trump moved to stamp out state AI laws.
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
There has to be a way
On the future of art and labor in the age of American AI and authoritarianism.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Last week, hundreds of creative workers amassed at a public hearing for an AI transparency bill to testify how AI was corroding their lives. Days later, Disney cut a deal with OpenAI, and Trump moved to stamp out state AI laws.
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
On art and labor in the age of AI and American authoritarianism:
Reposted by Brian Merchant
Listening to @bcmerchant.bsky.social BLOOD IN THE MACHINE on @libro.fm and hit the part in the early 1800's where tradespeople worked from home, made their own hours, and the bosses said "We're putting an end to THAT shit", and reflecting on COVID "back to the office" mandates. Plus ça change ...
December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Listening to @bcmerchant.bsky.social BLOOD IN THE MACHINE on @libro.fm and hit the part in the early 1800's where tradespeople worked from home, made their own hours, and the bosses said "We're putting an end to THAT shit", and reflecting on COVID "back to the office" mandates. Plus ça change ...
Reposted by Brian Merchant
In advertising, we would have clients who would ask for dozens of copy options and repeated rewrites from our copywriters.
Those same clients are now content with mindless slop, as long as it costs them very little.
Those same clients are now content with mindless slop, as long as it costs them very little.
When the AI boom began, copywriters were singled out as one of the jobs most vulnerable to AI. Now, three years later, I wanted to hear from workers on the frontlines of the industry, to hear what had actually taken place on the ground.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
"I was forced to use AI until the day I was laid off." Copywriters reveal how AI has decimated their industry
Copywriters were one of the first to have their jobs targeted by AI firms. These are their stories, three years into the AI era.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:26 PM
In advertising, we would have clients who would ask for dozens of copy options and repeated rewrites from our copywriters.
Those same clients are now content with mindless slop, as long as it costs them very little.
Those same clients are now content with mindless slop, as long as it costs them very little.