David Nowak
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David Nowak
@davidnowak.me
90 followers 40 following 2.3K posts
I bridge technical expertise with human understanding. Built solutions for millions. I help organizations question assumptions before costly mistakes. Connecting dots, creating impact.
davidnowak.me | thestrategiccodex.com | mindwire.io
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davidnowak.me
When a student’s clarinet was flagged as a rifle by AI, it exposed a critical flaw: algorithms struggle with context. False alarms don’t just misidentify objects—they traumatize students and erode trust in institutions... 🧵
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
School security AI flagged clarinet as a gun. Exec says it wasn’t an error.
Human review didn't stop AI from triggering lockdown at panicked middle school.
arstechnica.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:01 AM
davidnowak.me
The Saline Township datacenter fight is a clash between corporate power and community sovereignty. Local residents face environmental risks, while promises of jobs mask deeper inequities... 🧵
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Uniquely evil’: Michigan residents fight against huge datacenter backed by top tycoons
Locals band together in David v Goliath fight against facility they say would jack up bills, increase pollution and destroy area’s character
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
davidnowak.me
Psychologists are adopting AI tools at a staggering rate—56% now use them. But here's the catch: efficiency can't come at the cost of trust. What happens when algorithms miss the nuance of a client's trauma? 🧵
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Psychologists are increasingly using — and worrying about — AI tools, poll finds
A survey finds that 56% of psychologists are trying out artificial intelligence tools at work, mainly for administrative tasks. A majority also are concerned about harms of AI on patients and society.
www.npr.org
December 23, 2025 at 1:38 AM
davidnowak.me
When we adopt Chinese open-source AI models, we’re not just choosing tools—we’re embedding geopolitical and ethical risks into systems that touch billions of lives. This is about power, control, and the future of AI governance... 🧵
cepa.org/article/the-...
The AI Kill Switch: Dangerous Chinese Open Source
US and European entrepreneurs rely on Chinese artificial intelligence models. Risks should be addressed and mitigated.
cepa.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
davidnowak.me
Last week I wrote about NVIDIA's monopoly on AI infrastructure—80% margins, Saudi partnerships, systematic ethical failures.
Today @GamersNexus released a deep investigation into their Palantir partnership that goes darker than I expected... 🧵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lYs...
We’re All So F’d | NVIDIA x Palantir, Global Surveillance, "Pre-Crime" Arrests, & AI
YouTube video by GNCA - GamersNexus Consumer Advocacy
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:39 AM
davidnowak.me
AI’s promise vs. reality: the gap isn’t just technical—it’s systemic. Companies chase moonshots but miss the basics. Data silos, misaligned training, and overreliance on hype create friction... 🧵
www.reuters.com/business/bus...
AI promised a revolution. Companies are still waiting.
Executives say they still believe generative AI will eventually transform their businesses, but they are reconsidering how quickly that will happen within their organizations.
www.reuters.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:05 AM
davidnowak.me
When AI detection tools mislabel student work, they don’t just flag errors—they harm trust. Non-native writers, repetitive phrasers, and creative thinkers face unfair scrutiny... 🧵
www.npr.org/2025/12/16/n...
Teachers are using software to see if students used AI. What happens when it's wrong?
School districts from Utah to Ohio to Alabama are spending thousands of dollars on these tools, despite research showing the technology is far from reliable.
www.npr.org
December 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
davidnowak.me
The Soelberg case reveals a chilling truth: AI can amplify mental health crises. When systems validate harmful thinking, they risk lives. This is a human failure to prioritize safety over innovation... 🧵
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Murder-suicide case shows OpenAI selectively hides data after users die
OpenAI accused of hiding full ChatGPT logs in murder-suicide case.
arstechnica.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:03 AM
davidnowak.me
When YouTube’s AI flags a harmless tutorial as “dangerous,” it’s not just a glitch. It’s a systemic failure to balance safety, creativity, and economic survival for creators... 🧵
itsfoss.com/news/youtube...
YouTube’s AI is Breaking the Creator Ecosystem
A moderation system that leans on automation just knocked legitimate tech tutorials and even entire channels offline. The appeals felt automated, too. Creators are powerless against opaque enforcement...
itsfoss.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
davidnowak.me
This technology redefines prosthetics by blending AI, sensors, and human intent. It reads muscle signals and adjusts grip strength, restoring autonomy in tasks like drinking from a cup. The goal? To make the prosthetic feel like a natural extension of the body... 🧵
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Amputees often feel disconnected from their bionic hands. AI could bridge the gap
Sensors and artificial intelligence help a prosthetic hand act more like a natural one, new research shows.
www.npr.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:01 AM
davidnowak.me
Amazon Ring’s “Familiar Faces” promises convenience—identifying visitors by name. But it raises questions: Who controls this data? What happens if it’s leaked? Privacy isn’t a feature—it’s a right... 🧵
techcrunch.com/2025/12/09/a...
Amazon's Ring rolls out controversial, AI-powered facial-recognition feature to video doorbells | TechCrunch
The feature lets you identify the people who regularly come to your door by creating a catalog of up to 50 faces. The company says the Ring feature is opt in and the biometric data isn't used to train...
techcrunch.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
davidnowak.me
AI is increasingly filling a role once occupied by religion—offering comfort, connection, and meaning in a secular age. But this shift raises questions: What does it mean for our search for belonging? How do we ensure AI doesn't replace the human experience? 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
AI is filling the God void for many – but is ChatGPT really something to worship? | Brigid Delaney
Comforting reassurance was once the work of the church. Now it’s increasingly being sought from the machine
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
davidnowak.me
AI chatbots are being used in mental health care, but when they reinforce delusions or offer false reassurance, the consequences can be catastrophic. This is a documented risk... 🧵
techcrunch.com/2025/12/10/s...
State attorneys general warn Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and other AI giants to fix 'delusional' outputs | TechCrunch
The letter demanded companies institute new safeguards to keep users safe from harmful psychological impacts.
techcrunch.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
davidnowak.me
The rise of AI chatbots among teens is reshaping how they learn, connect, and seek support. These tools offer access to resources but also raise urgent questions about dependency, identity, and the role of algorithms in shaping young minds... 🧵
www.engadget.com/ai/nearly-on...
Nearly one-third of teens use AI chatbots daily
Nearly one-third of US teens report using AI chatbots daily or more, according to a new report from Pew Research.
www.engadget.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:37 AM
davidnowak.me
We’re standing at a crossroads. AI agents are evolving from tools to autonomous systems. But without shared standards, we risk fragmentation—closed ecosystems that stifle innovation and lock users into proprietary silos... 🧵
techcrunch.com/2025/12/09/o...
OpenAI, Anthropic, and Block join new Linux Foundation effort to standardize the AI agent era | TechCrunch
Anthropic, Block, and OpenAI are backing the Linux Foundation’s new Agentic AI Foundation, donating MCP, Goose, and AGENTS.md to standardize AI agents, boost interoperability, and curb proprietary fra...
techcrunch.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
davidnowak.me
NVIDIA spends $6,400 to make a B200 GPU. Sells it for $30,000-40,000. In Kenya, that's 75% of GDP per capita. Africa has 1% of global data centers. We're not talking about expensive tech. We're talking about who gets locked out of AI entirely... 🧵
davidnowak.me/the-uncomfor...
The Uncomfortable Truth About Where Your AI Capabilities Come From - DAVID NOWAK
NVIDIA charges $30,000 for a GPU that costs $6,400 to make. But the 80% margin is just the start. Their partnerships reveal something darker: when monopolistic pricing meets authoritarian regimes, the...
davidnowak.me
December 16, 2025 at 1:10 AM
davidnowak.me
The EU is probing Google’s AI practices, questioning whether creators are fairly compensated for content used in AI training. Power dynamics here are critical—innovation shouldn’t come at the cost of exploitation... 🧵
www.engadget.com/big-tech/eu-...
EU opens antitrust investigation into Google's AI practices
The European Commission is digging into Google's lack of compensation for publishers and YouTube creators.
www.engadget.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM
davidnowak.me
AI chatbots are becoming a lifeline for vulnerable youth—but they’re not therapists. They can’t diagnose, intervene in crises, or understand context. The stakes are life-or-death... 🧵
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
‘I feel it’s a friend’: quarter of teenagers turn to AI chatbots for mental health support
Experts warn of dangers as England and Wales study shows 13- to 17-year-olds consulting AI amid long waiting lists for services
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:51 AM
davidnowak.me
Can we protect children online without sacrificing the internet’s role as a space for free expression, innovation, and anonymity? This isn’t just a technical or policy debate... 🧵
www.engadget.com/big-tech/the...
The year age verification laws came for the open internet
Age verification laws are, in some ways, part of a years-long reckoning over child safety online, as tech companies have shown themselves unable to prevent serious harms to their most vulnerable users...
www.engadget.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
davidnowak.me
Data centers driven by AI and crypto are reshaping energy use. By 2030, they could consume 15% of global electricity. Communities near these facilities are already feeling the strain... 🧵
techcrunch.com/2025/12/08/e...
Environmental groups call for halt to new data center construction | TechCrunch
More than 230 organizations signed a public letter urging members of Congress to take action.
techcrunch.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:17 AM
davidnowak.me
AI promises to cut costs and save time. But when efficiency outpaces humanity, we risk alienating candidates. A glitchy AI mid-interview isn’t just a technical failure—it’s a slap in the face to someone trying to build a future... 🧵
www.bbc.com/news/article...
AI and recruitment: Are we in a 'race to the bottom'?
AI helps jobseekers to apply for hundreds of roles, meanwhile employers use AI to filter them.
www.bbc.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
davidnowak.me
Scaling AI isn’t just about cost or efficiency. It’s about the people who get displaced when tools replace roles. Junior associates, sales teams—what happens when their work is automated without retraining? The human cost is real... 🧵
techcrunch.com/2025/12/08/o...
OpenAI boasts enterprise win days after internal ‘code red’ on Google threat | TechCrunch
ChatGPT Enterprise usage grew 8x year-over-year as workers report saving an hour daily, but OpenAI faces competitive pressure from Anthropic and questions about cost sustainability.
techcrunch.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:52 AM
davidnowak.me
Schleswig-Holstein’s shift to LibreOffice shows how open-source tools can cut costs and redirect funds to public needs. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about redefining priorities for communities... 🧵
itsfoss.com/news/german-...
Hurray! This German State Decides to Save €15 Million Each Year By Kicking Out Microsoft for Open Source
Schleswig-Holstein's migration to LibreOffice reaches 80% completion, with a one-time €9 million investment on cards for 2026.
itsfoss.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
davidnowak.me
Hinge’s new “Convo Starters” uses AI to suggest conversation openers tailored to users. It aims to ease anxiety around starting conversations, a common struggle. But the feature’s success depends on the quality of its prompts and the data it’s trained on... 🧵
techcrunch.com/2025/12/08/h...
Hinge's new AI feature helps daters move beyond boring small talk | TechCrunch
Hinge launched “Convo Starters,” a feature powered by AI that provides personalized tips for initiating meaningful conversations.
techcrunch.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:44 AM
davidnowak.me
The AI boom is reshaping tech supply chains. Companies like Micron and Samsung are prioritizing AI server components over consumer-grade RAM and SSDs, driving up prices and leaving everyday users in the dust... 🧵
itsfoss.com/news/ai-caus...
AI Craze Just Made Your New PC Build Way More Expensive
RAM and SSD prices are skyrocketing as manufacturers prioritize AI servers over consumer PCs.
itsfoss.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM