🌶 David Gray Widder
@davidthewid.bsky.social
Assistant Prof at UT Austin's iSchool.
Big Tech, political economy, AI hype, AI in War
trying to help computer ppl think more critically about computer, including me
exCornell/CMU/NASA/MSR/IntelLabs.
davidwidder.me
Big Tech, political economy, AI hype, AI in War
trying to help computer ppl think more critically about computer, including me
exCornell/CMU/NASA/MSR/IntelLabs.
davidwidder.me
Pinned
Oh, the paper is here btw: davidwidder.me/cloud.pdf
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
Across the federal government, Germany spent half a billion euros on Microsoft licenses last year. 🤯
That does not include state and local spending. A lot of taxpayer money for (mainly) software equal or inferior to already available open source alternatives...
That does not include state and local spending. A lot of taxpayer money for (mainly) software equal or inferior to already available open source alternatives...
Digitale Souveränität: Bundesbehörden haben letztes Jahr 481 Millionen Euro Steuergeld an Microsoft bezahlt. Eine Steigerung um drei Viertel in zwei Jahren. dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21/040/2...
February 11, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Across the federal government, Germany spent half a billion euros on Microsoft licenses last year. 🤯
That does not include state and local spending. A lot of taxpayer money for (mainly) software equal or inferior to already available open source alternatives...
That does not include state and local spending. A lot of taxpayer money for (mainly) software equal or inferior to already available open source alternatives...
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
Warren, allegedly leading a cultural studies program, pretends TT PhD hires *to R1 universities* is some kind of indicator of the health of the program rather than condition of *the historical conjuncture*. Also, I didn't get a R1 job & despite my 'failure' I have 2 books from OUP. He has 1 💅
This is bleak as hell. Who cares about literature when you’ve got computers?
Way to go Carnegie Mellon. Our tech oligarchs will not reward your loyalty
the-tartan.org/2026/02/09/l...
Way to go Carnegie Mellon. Our tech oligarchs will not reward your loyalty
the-tartan.org/2026/02/09/l...
Literature and Cultural Studies program cut, replaced with Computational Cultural Studies - The Tartan
In Feb. 2024, Richard Scheines, Dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, placed an administrative hold on admissions to Carnegie
the-tartan.org
February 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Warren, allegedly leading a cultural studies program, pretends TT PhD hires *to R1 universities* is some kind of indicator of the health of the program rather than condition of *the historical conjuncture*. Also, I didn't get a R1 job & despite my 'failure' I have 2 books from OUP. He has 1 💅
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
📣 Attention science + tech journalists!
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
October 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
📣 Attention science + tech journalists!
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
Trying to keep up with the flood of research papers that come out every day? Attempting to track what research has already been covered by others, and what may benefit from deeper exploration?
You are invited to participate in our research study!
[1/3]
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
I just realized that Google Search options is a nice “how epistemically cooked are you” scale
February 10, 2026 at 12:58 AM
I just realized that Google Search options is a nice “how epistemically cooked are you” scale
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
My new article on Canada's recent AI strategy consultation. Lightning-fast engagement, dubious data protection measures, black box analysis, & AI-generated summaries from made-in-USA LLMs are not a winning strategy for building public trust
betakit.com/canadas-new-...
betakit.com/canadas-new-...
Canada’s new AI strategy is off to a bad start | BetaKit
Canadians already have low trust in AI. Exclusionary and unclear public engagement methods aren’t helping.
betakit.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:32 PM
My new article on Canada's recent AI strategy consultation. Lightning-fast engagement, dubious data protection measures, black box analysis, & AI-generated summaries from made-in-USA LLMs are not a winning strategy for building public trust
betakit.com/canadas-new-...
betakit.com/canadas-new-...
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
Oh, the paper is here btw: davidwidder.me/cloud.pdf
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
February 8, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Oh, the paper is here btw: davidwidder.me/cloud.pdf
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
AI is not real, it is just data compute labor
"Please do NOT send me a picture of yourself in the hospital"
(without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work)
(without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work)
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
“Hitler did that, too.”
“Hitler did that, too.”
February 8, 2026 at 2:45 AM
AI is not real, it is just data compute labor
Oh, the paper is here btw: davidwidder.me/cloud.pdf
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
February 8, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Oh, the paper is here btw: davidwidder.me/cloud.pdf
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
and I was presenting this at the Association of Law and Political Economy's first conference, quite literally the coolest conference I've been to in a while
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
funny letter, from a frustrated scientist reacting to the University of Michigan seeking to distance itself from the defense industry, 1972. From an ongoing project on UMich's relationship to national security since WWII
February 6, 2026 at 10:49 PM
funny letter, from a frustrated scientist reacting to the University of Michigan seeking to distance itself from the defense industry, 1972. From an ongoing project on UMich's relationship to national security since WWII
I presented @nathanckim.bsky.social and my "How Big Cloud gets Bigger" paper analyzing crunchbase to show how:
*Google/Microsoft/Amazon invest at rates rivaling the largest VCs.*
Big Cloud = Critical Infrastructure *AND* Venture Capital.
here are the slides:
*Google/Microsoft/Amazon invest at rates rivaling the largest VCs.*
Big Cloud = Critical Infrastructure *AND* Venture Capital.
here are the slides:
February 8, 2026 at 1:16 AM
I presented @nathanckim.bsky.social and my "How Big Cloud gets Bigger" paper analyzing crunchbase to show how:
*Google/Microsoft/Amazon invest at rates rivaling the largest VCs.*
Big Cloud = Critical Infrastructure *AND* Venture Capital.
here are the slides:
*Google/Microsoft/Amazon invest at rates rivaling the largest VCs.*
Big Cloud = Critical Infrastructure *AND* Venture Capital.
here are the slides:
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
i donno but i’ve been feel like i am incapable of working on anything that doesn’t end with burn it all down to the ground
February 7, 2026 at 5:29 PM
i donno but i’ve been feel like i am incapable of working on anything that doesn’t end with burn it all down to the ground
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
"Horseshoe Theory" is the theory that horses need shoes. It's controversial because most animals don't wear shoes.
February 7, 2026 at 4:05 AM
"Horseshoe Theory" is the theory that horses need shoes. It's controversial because most animals don't wear shoes.
The AAUP hired a high-powered attorney for Dr. Melissa McCoul after she was attacked then fired for talking about gender in her Texas A&M class.
Union dues protect you and your colleagues - join!
College students deserve to be trusted to have difficult conversations with respect and maturity.
Union dues protect you and your colleagues - join!
College students deserve to be trusted to have difficult conversations with respect and maturity.
Prof. McCoul Fired; Sues Texas A&M Over Free Speech
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
aaup-texas.org
February 7, 2026 at 3:32 AM
The AAUP hired a high-powered attorney for Dr. Melissa McCoul after she was attacked then fired for talking about gender in her Texas A&M class.
Union dues protect you and your colleagues - join!
College students deserve to be trusted to have difficult conversations with respect and maturity.
Union dues protect you and your colleagues - join!
College students deserve to be trusted to have difficult conversations with respect and maturity.
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
👀 Apparently, Ross Douthat invited Seth Harp to debate him on Douthat's "Interesting Times" NYT podcast. Harp says that the episode was recorded, Douthat got crushed, and RD/NYT decided not to publish it.
What? x.com/sethharpesq/...
What? x.com/sethharpesq/...
February 6, 2026 at 1:57 AM
👀 Apparently, Ross Douthat invited Seth Harp to debate him on Douthat's "Interesting Times" NYT podcast. Harp says that the episode was recorded, Douthat got crushed, and RD/NYT decided not to publish it.
What? x.com/sethharpesq/...
What? x.com/sethharpesq/...
What is the proper academic etiquette for letting a colleague know that the name of their chair turned up in the Epistein files
February 5, 2026 at 6:26 PM
What is the proper academic etiquette for letting a colleague know that the name of their chair turned up in the Epistein files
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
PhD admissions visits/open houses are starting to happen, and I got a comment on an old Reddit post where I was offering advice, and realized that it's actually really good advice. So here it is! (And this applies whether you've already been admitted to the program or not.) 🧵
February 5, 2026 at 5:26 PM
PhD admissions visits/open houses are starting to happen, and I got a comment on an old Reddit post where I was offering advice, and realized that it's actually really good advice. So here it is! (And this applies whether you've already been admitted to the program or not.) 🧵
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
✨I’m on the academic job market ✨
I’m a PhD candidate at @hcii.cmu.edu studying tech, labor, and resistance 👩🏻💻💪🏽💥
I research how workers and communities contest harmful sociotechnical systems and shape alternative futures through everyday resistance and collective action
More info: cella.io
I’m a PhD candidate at @hcii.cmu.edu studying tech, labor, and resistance 👩🏻💻💪🏽💥
I research how workers and communities contest harmful sociotechnical systems and shape alternative futures through everyday resistance and collective action
More info: cella.io
Cella M. Sum –
cella.io
October 9, 2025 at 2:39 PM
✨I’m on the academic job market ✨
I’m a PhD candidate at @hcii.cmu.edu studying tech, labor, and resistance 👩🏻💻💪🏽💥
I research how workers and communities contest harmful sociotechnical systems and shape alternative futures through everyday resistance and collective action
More info: cella.io
I’m a PhD candidate at @hcii.cmu.edu studying tech, labor, and resistance 👩🏻💻💪🏽💥
I research how workers and communities contest harmful sociotechnical systems and shape alternative futures through everyday resistance and collective action
More info: cella.io
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
I'm particularly excited to discuss how to make Big Tech smaller, how to interrupt the AI->war pipeline, and make fun of lawyers (the boring kind).
February 4, 2026 at 10:43 PM
I'm particularly excited to discuss how to make Big Tech smaller, how to interrupt the AI->war pipeline, and make fun of lawyers (the boring kind).
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
Howdy! If you're attending the Law and Political Economy Conference in Richmond VA this week, drink with us at the reception and then:
‼️ 📣 join us for the bluesky of ALPE group dinner at 6:30pm on Friday, leaving from the reception to a nearby restaurant. All welcome 📣‼️
‼️ 📣 join us for the bluesky of ALPE group dinner at 6:30pm on Friday, leaving from the reception to a nearby restaurant. All welcome 📣‼️
February 4, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Howdy! If you're attending the Law and Political Economy Conference in Richmond VA this week, drink with us at the reception and then:
‼️ 📣 join us for the bluesky of ALPE group dinner at 6:30pm on Friday, leaving from the reception to a nearby restaurant. All welcome 📣‼️
‼️ 📣 join us for the bluesky of ALPE group dinner at 6:30pm on Friday, leaving from the reception to a nearby restaurant. All welcome 📣‼️
I resonate with this so hard.
Star trek had a lot of hard lines over the years, but this remains the fucking hardest
February 4, 2026 at 7:50 PM
I resonate with this so hard.
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
Texas A&M ends its women's & gender studies program while hundreds of syllabi remain flagged and censored under top-down review policies.
“I have never seen anything like this.”
— Dr. Leonard Bright, @tamu-aaup.bsky.social President
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@cwa-tseu.bsky.social
“I have never seen anything like this.”
— Dr. Leonard Bright, @tamu-aaup.bsky.social President
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@cwa-tseu.bsky.social
Texas A&M Ends Women’s Studies and Overhauls Classes Over Race and Gender
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Texas A&M ends its women's & gender studies program while hundreds of syllabi remain flagged and censored under top-down review policies.
“I have never seen anything like this.”
— Dr. Leonard Bright, @tamu-aaup.bsky.social President
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@cwa-tseu.bsky.social
“I have never seen anything like this.”
— Dr. Leonard Bright, @tamu-aaup.bsky.social President
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@cwa-tseu.bsky.social
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
The college at which I'm employed, which has signed a contract with the AI firm that stole books from 131 colleagues & me, paid a student to write an op-ed for the student paper promoting AI, guided the writing of it, and did not disclose this to the paper. www.thedartmouth.com/article/2026...
College approached and paid student to write op-ed in The Dartmouth
The Dartmouth ran the article on Nov. 17 without knowledge that the College had been involved.
www.thedartmouth.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:40 PM
The college at which I'm employed, which has signed a contract with the AI firm that stole books from 131 colleagues & me, paid a student to write an op-ed for the student paper promoting AI, guided the writing of it, and did not disclose this to the paper. www.thedartmouth.com/article/2026...
City of Austin: yes I did! That's because it was 1200% more cold in Texas this week than last.
(And I also am loving having a dishwasher again, admittedly…)
(And I also am loving having a dishwasher again, admittedly…)
January 28, 2026 at 10:24 PM
City of Austin: yes I did! That's because it was 1200% more cold in Texas this week than last.
(And I also am loving having a dishwasher again, admittedly…)
(And I also am loving having a dishwasher again, admittedly…)
Reposted by 🌶 David Gray Widder
Our neighborhood has leveled up in this regard
January 28, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Our neighborhood has leveled up in this regard