Emily M. Bender
@emilymbender.bsky.social
The reason I asked this question is that colleagues I respect and trust in CL, for whom English is L2, apparently experience pressure not to cite papers written in their L1.
My actual opinions follow >>
My actual opinions follow >>
Question for #AcademicSky about citational practice (please include your field in your answer):
Assuming you are writing in English, under what conditions do you cite work written in another language? Under what conditions do you avoid doing so?
Assuming you are writing in English, under what conditions do you cite work written in another language? Under what conditions do you avoid doing so?
January 21, 2026 at 8:07 PM
The reason I asked this question is that colleagues I respect and trust in CL, for whom English is L2, apparently experience pressure not to cite papers written in their L1.
My actual opinions follow >>
My actual opinions follow >>
Question for #AcademicSky about citational practice (please include your field in your answer):
Assuming you are writing in English, under what conditions do you cite work written in another language? Under what conditions do you avoid doing so?
Assuming you are writing in English, under what conditions do you cite work written in another language? Under what conditions do you avoid doing so?
January 21, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Question for #AcademicSky about citational practice (please include your field in your answer):
Assuming you are writing in English, under what conditions do you cite work written in another language? Under what conditions do you avoid doing so?
Assuming you are writing in English, under what conditions do you cite work written in another language? Under what conditions do you avoid doing so?
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
57% of parents think using AI in the classroom will help their children prepare for a future in the workforce.
AI companies marketing this de-skilling tech as good and inevitable has been very effective.
We need to do a better job of reaching parents and showing the truth.
AI companies marketing this de-skilling tech as good and inevitable has been very effective.
We need to do a better job of reaching parents and showing the truth.
You can find the whole presentation via MassINC Polling Group here: www.massincpolling.com/our-work/par...
Parents Divided as AI Rapidly Reshapes Massachusetts Classrooms — MassINC Polling Group
New statewide poll reveals widespread student use of AI, sharp divisions in parent sentiment, and strong demand for digital literacy Download Topline (PDF) Download Crosstabs (Excel) View the...
www.massincpolling.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:38 PM
57% of parents think using AI in the classroom will help their children prepare for a future in the workforce.
AI companies marketing this de-skilling tech as good and inevitable has been very effective.
We need to do a better job of reaching parents and showing the truth.
AI companies marketing this de-skilling tech as good and inevitable has been very effective.
We need to do a better job of reaching parents and showing the truth.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
Pro-tip for editors: That scholar in some other field who you've heard of. Probably all of the other editors have too. She doesn't have time.
No, I am not available to review the 100,000th manuscript on using LLMs for whatever nonsense that has already been submitted in 2026 and no I don't have time to navigate your website to tell you that. Grr.
January 20, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Pro-tip for editors: That scholar in some other field who you've heard of. Probably all of the other editors have too. She doesn't have time.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
As always, when things get automated, the supposed reason is to make things more efficient. But for whom? Easier for authors to submit or reviewers to manage manuscripts? Or easier for the publishers managing the administrative tasks (allowing them to publish more with fewer editors)?
I have an autoresponder set up on my email to manage response expecations (and maintain my own sanity) but that autoreponse I'm sure doesn't get conveyed back to the editor who caused their reviewing system to send me an email.
>>
>>
January 20, 2026 at 2:02 AM
As always, when things get automated, the supposed reason is to make things more efficient. But for whom? Easier for authors to submit or reviewers to manage manuscripts? Or easier for the publishers managing the administrative tasks (allowing them to publish more with fewer editors)?
Pro-tip for editors: That scholar in some other field who you've heard of. Probably all of the other editors have too. She doesn't have time.
No, I am not available to review the 100,000th manuscript on using LLMs for whatever nonsense that has already been submitted in 2026 and no I don't have time to navigate your website to tell you that. Grr.
January 20, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Pro-tip for editors: That scholar in some other field who you've heard of. Probably all of the other editors have too. She doesn't have time.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
A greeting card for my Bluesky friends
January 17, 2026 at 10:53 PM
A greeting card for my Bluesky friends
No, I am not available to review the 100,000th manuscript on using LLMs for whatever nonsense that has already been submitted in 2026 and no I don't have time to navigate your website to tell you that. Grr.
January 20, 2026 at 1:15 AM
No, I am not available to review the 100,000th manuscript on using LLMs for whatever nonsense that has already been submitted in 2026 and no I don't have time to navigate your website to tell you that. Grr.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
I need to apologize for something I did. The @bostonherald.com is right, there is no place for profanities in politics.
January 16, 2026 at 8:16 PM
I need to apologize for something I did. The @bostonherald.com is right, there is no place for profanities in politics.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
So all of the info on Wikipedia is shared under a Creative Commons Share Alike license. Does this mean that MSFT, Meta and Amazon will be making their models freely available?
I wonder how Wikipedia editors and contributors feel about this.
Wikipedia signs AI training deals with Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon
Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid deals.
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/...
Wikipedia signs AI training deals with Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon
Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid deals.
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/...
Wikipedia will share content with AI firms in new licensing deals
Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid deals.
arstechnica.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:37 PM
So all of the info on Wikipedia is shared under a Creative Commons Share Alike license. Does this mean that MSFT, Meta and Amazon will be making their models freely available?
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
Remember Time mag's 2025 Person of the Year "AI" cover?
In the latest episode of Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social break down the image & take stock of the Bullshit Mountain that was the last year in "AI".
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
In the latest episode of Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social break down the image & take stock of the Bullshit Mountain that was the last year in "AI".
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
January 15, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Remember Time mag's 2025 Person of the Year "AI" cover?
In the latest episode of Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social break down the image & take stock of the Bullshit Mountain that was the last year in "AI".
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
In the latest episode of Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social break down the image & take stock of the Bullshit Mountain that was the last year in "AI".
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
So all of the info on Wikipedia is shared under a Creative Commons Share Alike license. Does this mean that MSFT, Meta and Amazon will be making their models freely available?
I wonder how Wikipedia editors and contributors feel about this.
Wikipedia signs AI training deals with Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon
Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid deals.
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/...
Wikipedia signs AI training deals with Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon
Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid deals.
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/...
Wikipedia will share content with AI firms in new licensing deals
Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid deals.
arstechnica.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:37 PM
So all of the info on Wikipedia is shared under a Creative Commons Share Alike license. Does this mean that MSFT, Meta and Amazon will be making their models freely available?
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
And finally, whatever your gender, if you come across a trans person online or IRL who shares that they have been targeted in this way,
1. Send them the link to the NLG hotline: www.nlg.org/nlg-announce...
2. DO NOT demand that they share the letter with you or publicly as 'PROOF'
Ty.
1. Send them the link to the NLG hotline: www.nlg.org/nlg-announce...
2. DO NOT demand that they share the letter with you or publicly as 'PROOF'
Ty.
NLG Announces Federal Defense Hotline - National Lawyers Guild
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: massdef@nlg.org The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) National Office is launching a hotline for activists and lawyers to report incidents of federal repression, such as FBI ...
www.nlg.org
January 15, 2026 at 9:25 PM
And finally, whatever your gender, if you come across a trans person online or IRL who shares that they have been targeted in this way,
1. Send them the link to the NLG hotline: www.nlg.org/nlg-announce...
2. DO NOT demand that they share the letter with you or publicly as 'PROOF'
Ty.
1. Send them the link to the NLG hotline: www.nlg.org/nlg-announce...
2. DO NOT demand that they share the letter with you or publicly as 'PROOF'
Ty.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
In the most desolate, American techno-fascist story one can imagine: ICE descends on a data center construction site in Louisiana to abduct workers.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Immigration Officers Descend on Meta Data Center, Arrest Drivers
Federal immigration officers targeted a construction site in rural Louisiana where Meta Platforms Inc. is building its largest data center, leading to the arrest of two individuals, according to local...
www.bloomberg.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:06 PM
In the most desolate, American techno-fascist story one can imagine: ICE descends on a data center construction site in Louisiana to abduct workers.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
Also available as video on PeerTube:
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
January 14, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Also available as video on PeerTube:
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, Episode 70:
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
January 14, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, Episode 70:
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
Paraphrasing this excellent rebuttal of the denialism/Luddite/FOMO peer pressure tactic:
It is not my job to help tech companies "prove" how useful their systems are. It is my job to use what I know as a librarian to help people make better decisions about this technology.
It is not my job to help tech companies "prove" how useful their systems are. It is my job to use what I know as a librarian to help people make better decisions about this technology.
MAIHT3k newsletter:
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
Resistance Isn't Denialism
By Emily I've recently noticed a new tactic on the part of AI boosters to attempt to erase the work of people who are resisting the project of "AI" and...
buttondown.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Paraphrasing this excellent rebuttal of the denialism/Luddite/FOMO peer pressure tactic:
It is not my job to help tech companies "prove" how useful their systems are. It is my job to use what I know as a librarian to help people make better decisions about this technology.
It is not my job to help tech companies "prove" how useful their systems are. It is my job to use what I know as a librarian to help people make better decisions about this technology.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
One argument by date center supporters is that opponents are paranoid AI deniers. This post, the comments and the essay show,as Emily says, "None of that is true".
MAIHT3k newsletter:
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
Resistance Isn't Denialism
By Emily I've recently noticed a new tactic on the part of AI boosters to attempt to erase the work of people who are resisting the project of "AI" and...
buttondown.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:42 PM
One argument by date center supporters is that opponents are paranoid AI deniers. This post, the comments and the essay show,as Emily says, "None of that is true".
Also available as video on PeerTube:
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
January 14, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Also available as video on PeerTube:
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
peertube.dair-institute.org/w/sUzA6ZCSW7...
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, Episode 70:
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
January 14, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, Episode 70:
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...
in which @alexhanna.bsky.social and I take stock of the heights we’ve reached in our climb up Bullshit Mountain in 2025.
Thanks to Ozzy Llinas Goodman for production!
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
MAIHT3k newsletter:
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
Resistance Isn't Denialism
By Emily I've recently noticed a new tactic on the part of AI boosters to attempt to erase the work of people who are resisting the project of "AI" and...
buttondown.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:20 PM
MAIHT3k newsletter:
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
The narrative of the denialism frame is that those opposing "AI" are afraid, under-informed and/or engaging in wishful thinking. None of that is true: The people who oppose the "AI" project are actively fighting and refusing to accept the premise of tech bros and AI boosters.
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
@emilymbender.bsky.social Hi Emily (love your book!), we are a group of Vancouver parents that have started a petition to push back against local school board plans to deploy Microsoft Copilot into classrooms.
It would help so much if you could share it 🙏
actionnetwork.org/petitions/vo...
It would help so much if you could share it 🙏
actionnetwork.org/petitions/vo...
Voice AI Concerns to Vancouver School Board
Vancouver School Board (VSB) are planning to collaborate with Microsoft to introduce Generative AI into classrooms.
As parents and guardians of children at VSB schools, we do not consent to our child...
actionnetwork.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:42 AM
@emilymbender.bsky.social Hi Emily (love your book!), we are a group of Vancouver parents that have started a petition to push back against local school board plans to deploy Microsoft Copilot into classrooms.
It would help so much if you could share it 🙏
actionnetwork.org/petitions/vo...
It would help so much if you could share it 🙏
actionnetwork.org/petitions/vo...
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
just imagining this "tools make discovery" frame applied to historic scientific achievements
"Bread discovers miracle mold"
"Kite finds lightning is actually electricity"
"Bread discovers miracle mold"
"Kite finds lightning is actually electricity"
Scientists have used artificial intelligence to create an enzyme that can eat one of the toughest plastics on Earth. The enzyme breaks polyurethane down into reusable chemicals in just 12 hours at 50°C, turning it back into raw materials. Truly circular recycling. buff.ly/oUxRjjl #ShareGoodNewsToo
Neural network finds an enzyme that can break down polyurethane
Given a dozen hours, the enzyme can turn a foam pad into reusable chemicals.
buff.ly
January 13, 2026 at 4:03 PM
just imagining this "tools make discovery" frame applied to historic scientific achievements
"Bread discovers miracle mold"
"Kite finds lightning is actually electricity"
"Bread discovers miracle mold"
"Kite finds lightning is actually electricity"
Reposted by Emily M. Bender
Not sure why this old STS dissertation has not been cited more, but this history of neural networks (from 1991!) by Rodríguez is a very rich (laudatory) text. Based on readings of papers, contemporary news, and interviews w Minsky, Rumelhart, Webros, and many others.
web.archive.org/web/20250730...
web.archive.org/web/20250730...
era.ed.ac.uk
January 13, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Not sure why this old STS dissertation has not been cited more, but this history of neural networks (from 1991!) by Rodríguez is a very rich (laudatory) text. Based on readings of papers, contemporary news, and interviews w Minsky, Rumelhart, Webros, and many others.
web.archive.org/web/20250730...
web.archive.org/web/20250730...