Livia Garofalo
@livgar.bsky.social
researcher @ Data & Society
anthropologist, etc.
she/her
https://datasociety.net/people/garofalo-livia/
views, at least those, my own
anthropologist, etc.
she/her
https://datasociety.net/people/garofalo-livia/
views, at least those, my own
Pinned
Livia Garofalo
@livgar.bsky.social
· Feb 6
A beautiful dispatch by D&S’s @livgar.bsky.social, @mwoluchem.bsky.social, and Joan Mukogosi about their recent research road trip through Pennsylvania, tracing the connection from the industrial past to our tech-dominated present — and uncertain future. datasociety.net/points/digit...
A week after the US elections, we went on a road trip throughout PA to understand how past industries defined our world and how tech is reshaping it now. People and the places they live in and care about are always affected--and will be increasingly in the current tech oligarchy: Read here:
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
Tomorrow at 10am ET: a discussion debunking myths about the impact of data centers on the economy, environment, & local communities, with D&S researcher @livgar.bsky.social, MOSACAT's Tania Rodríguez, & @slehuede.bsky.social. Interpretation in English and Spanish. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
November 17, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Tomorrow at 10am ET: a discussion debunking myths about the impact of data centers on the economy, environment, & local communities, with D&S researcher @livgar.bsky.social, MOSACAT's Tania Rodríguez, & @slehuede.bsky.social. Interpretation in English and Spanish. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
Low-intensity warfare is uncanny. We continue to go to work, bring kids to school, shop for groceries, etc. But our everyday routines are punctuated by random episodes of spectacular violence; war as a way of life.
Scenes From the Occupation
As the feds cracked down on immigration in Chicago this fall, filmmaker Carlos Javier Ortiz’s camera was rolling. These stills and footage show a city in crisis — and a city defiant.
www.chicagomag.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Low-intensity warfare is uncanny. We continue to go to work, bring kids to school, shop for groceries, etc. But our everyday routines are punctuated by random episodes of spectacular violence; war as a way of life.
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
CHICAGO: REBUILD is providing therapy to folks detained by ICE. Please feel free to let people know.
findmeatherapist.org
findmeatherapist.org
Find Me A Therapist
findmeatherapist.org
October 11, 2025 at 12:28 AM
CHICAGO: REBUILD is providing therapy to folks detained by ICE. Please feel free to let people know.
findmeatherapist.org
findmeatherapist.org
What our ongoing research with @briana-v.bsky.social at @datasociety.bsky.social is also finding:
People are using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence apps to help them with emotional issues, but experts say they are not a substitute for therapy or companionship.
With therapy hard to get, people lean on AI for mental health. What are the risks?
People are using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence apps to help them with emotional issues, but experts say they are not a substitute for therapy or companionship.
n.pr
September 30, 2025 at 1:16 PM
What our ongoing research with @briana-v.bsky.social at @datasociety.bsky.social is also finding:
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
This should be repeated constantly:
"In three years, roughly a tenth of US energy demand will come from data centers alone."
We need to have a real response to this!!
www.nplusonemag.com/issue-51/the...
"In three years, roughly a tenth of US energy demand will come from data centers alone."
We need to have a real response to this!!
www.nplusonemag.com/issue-51/the...
Large Language Muddle | The Editors
The AI upheaval is unique in its ability to metabolize any number of dread-inducing transformations. The university is becoming more corporate, more politically oppressive, and all but hostile to the ...
www.nplusonemag.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
This should be repeated constantly:
"In three years, roughly a tenth of US energy demand will come from data centers alone."
We need to have a real response to this!!
www.nplusonemag.com/issue-51/the...
"In three years, roughly a tenth of US energy demand will come from data centers alone."
We need to have a real response to this!!
www.nplusonemag.com/issue-51/the...
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
On Lawfare Daily, @tylermcbrien.com spoke to @mwoluchem.bsky.social, @livgar.bsky.social, and Joan Mukogosi from @datasociety.bsky.social about their research trips across Pennsylvania, where they learned about the current and future impacts of the nascent AI data center industry in the state.
September 18, 2025 at 1:36 PM
On Lawfare Daily, @tylermcbrien.com spoke to @mwoluchem.bsky.social, @livgar.bsky.social, and Joan Mukogosi from @datasociety.bsky.social about their research trips across Pennsylvania, where they learned about the current and future impacts of the nascent AI data center industry in the state.
It was lovely to talk about PA with @mwoluchem.bsky.social and Joan on the transformations being pushed by the data center industry across the state. Looking forward continuing this work with @anthrotechana.bsky.social and @cellllla.bsky.social 🛣️
On Lawfare Daily, @tylermcbrien.com spoke to @mwoluchem.bsky.social, @livgar.bsky.social, and Joan Mukogosi from @datasociety.bsky.social about their research trips across Pennsylvania, where they learned about the current and future impacts of the nascent AI data center industry in the state.
September 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
It was lovely to talk about PA with @mwoluchem.bsky.social and Joan on the transformations being pushed by the data center industry across the state. Looking forward continuing this work with @anthrotechana.bsky.social and @cellllla.bsky.social 🛣️
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
An absolutely harrowing and important story -- ChatGPT and other chatbots are becoming deeply enmeshed in many people's personal and social lives to an incredible degree, and the consequences can be devastating.
Adam Raine, 16, died from suicide in April after months on ChatGPT discussing plans to end his life. His parents have filed the first known case against OpenAI for wrongful death.
Overwhelming at times to work on this story, but here it is. My latest on AI chatbots: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...
Overwhelming at times to work on this story, but here it is. My latest on AI chatbots: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...
A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:35 PM
An absolutely harrowing and important story -- ChatGPT and other chatbots are becoming deeply enmeshed in many people's personal and social lives to an incredible degree, and the consequences can be devastating.
In our second installment of our trip through PA, we linger on Three Mile Island on the banks of Susquehanna river. Nuclear energy coming back to power Microsoft data centers stands in strange contrast to small town diners, empty malls, and steel mill closures. Read below:
With a deal to provide nuclear-powered energy to data centers, Three Mile Island is coming back online to power the AI boom. As @livgar.bsky.social, Joan Mukogosi, & @mwoluchem.bsky.social write, locals are wrestling with how to handle AI-driven industrial change. datasociety.net/points/in-pe...
August 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
In our second installment of our trip through PA, we linger on Three Mile Island on the banks of Susquehanna river. Nuclear energy coming back to power Microsoft data centers stands in strange contrast to small town diners, empty malls, and steel mill closures. Read below:
Thank you to @justinhendrix.bsky.social and @techpolicypress.bsky.social for eliciting some thoughts on some recent tragic incidents brought about by chatbots and what are increasingly becoming forms of technologically predatory companionships:
Last week, Reuters published two articles by journalist Jeff Horwitz reporting concerning details about Meta's AI chatbot policies and products and how they affect children and vulnerable adults. Tech Policy Press invited experts to submit reactions to the reports—here are their responses:
Experts React to Reuters Reports on Meta's AI Chatbot Policies | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press invited a range of experts to submit reactions to concerning reports on Meta's AI chatbot policies and products.
www.techpolicy.press
August 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Thank you to @justinhendrix.bsky.social and @techpolicypress.bsky.social for eliciting some thoughts on some recent tragic incidents brought about by chatbots and what are increasingly becoming forms of technologically predatory companionships:
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
Commentary today from TI’s brilliant @livgar.bsky.social and many other experts about Meta’s profoundly disturbing chatbot policies and their real human impacts. Essential reflections for any and all of us using the internet
Last week, Reuters published two articles by journalist Jeff Horwitz reporting concerning details about Meta's AI chatbot policies and products and how they affect children and vulnerable adults. Tech Policy Press invited experts to submit reactions to the reports—here are their responses:
Experts React to Reuters Reports on Meta's AI Chatbot Policies | TechPolicy.Press
Tech Policy Press invited a range of experts to submit reactions to concerning reports on Meta's AI chatbot policies and products.
www.techpolicy.press
August 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Commentary today from TI’s brilliant @livgar.bsky.social and many other experts about Meta’s profoundly disturbing chatbot policies and their real human impacts. Essential reflections for any and all of us using the internet
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
Chatbots for therapy: Worst idea ever or a good way to drive people into psychosis?
On the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream, @mharrisondupre.bsky.social will join @alexhanna.bsky.social and me to process the hype:
Monday, August 18, noon Pacific
twitch.tv/dair_institute
On the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream, @mharrisondupre.bsky.social will join @alexhanna.bsky.social and me to process the hype:
Monday, August 18, noon Pacific
twitch.tv/dair_institute
dair_institute - Twitch
Twitch account for The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR).
twitch.tv
August 15, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Chatbots for therapy: Worst idea ever or a good way to drive people into psychosis?
On the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream, @mharrisondupre.bsky.social will join @alexhanna.bsky.social and me to process the hype:
Monday, August 18, noon Pacific
twitch.tv/dair_institute
On the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream, @mharrisondupre.bsky.social will join @alexhanna.bsky.social and me to process the hype:
Monday, August 18, noon Pacific
twitch.tv/dair_institute
🚨New! Data centers aren’t destiny. With the Trump administration set to release its AI action plan, @tamigraph.bsky.social & @mwoluchem.bsky.social cut through lobbying points and speculation to focus on what the evidence reveals about the tech industry’s claims. datasociety.net/library/data...
July 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
Wow—the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention (named after Raphael Lemkin, a Holocaust survivor who coined the term genocide) says plainly:
"No more discussions, meetings, reports, sessions, summits…IF YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU MUST USE IT."
"HISTORY WILL DETERMINE THE RECTITUDE OF YOUR ACTIONS."
"No more discussions, meetings, reports, sessions, summits…IF YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU MUST USE IT."
"HISTORY WILL DETERMINE THE RECTITUDE OF YOUR ACTIONS."
July 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Wow—the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention (named after Raphael Lemkin, a Holocaust survivor who coined the term genocide) says plainly:
"No more discussions, meetings, reports, sessions, summits…IF YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU MUST USE IT."
"HISTORY WILL DETERMINE THE RECTITUDE OF YOUR ACTIONS."
"No more discussions, meetings, reports, sessions, summits…IF YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU MUST USE IT."
"HISTORY WILL DETERMINE THE RECTITUDE OF YOUR ACTIONS."
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
Today Trump, Sen. McCormick, and industry leaders convened to discuss their plan for AI-forward PA. Upshot: $92 billion will go to data centers, natural gas & nuclear infrastructure, & re-organizing labor around the AI race. DoE Sec. Chris Wright declared: “AI is our second Manhattan Project.”
July 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Today Trump, Sen. McCormick, and industry leaders convened to discuss their plan for AI-forward PA. Upshot: $92 billion will go to data centers, natural gas & nuclear infrastructure, & re-organizing labor around the AI race. DoE Sec. Chris Wright declared: “AI is our second Manhattan Project.”
Happy to have a shared piece on trust in relationality in the new @datasociety.bsky.social Trust Issues Anthology! Read below 🪢
📣 Just published! Our new anthology reframes the question of trust and technology away from whether a particular technology is trustworthy and toward how trust shapes institutions, bodies, and knowledge. 1/5 datasociety.net/library/trus...
May 29, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Happy to have a shared piece on trust in relationality in the new @datasociety.bsky.social Trust Issues Anthology! Read below 🪢
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
“You don’t like AI therapists because they’re a threat to your income”
No, I don’t like AI therapists because they are harmful!
No, I don’t like AI therapists because they are harmful!
April 30, 2025 at 12:03 AM
“You don’t like AI therapists because they’re a threat to your income”
No, I don’t like AI therapists because they are harmful!
No, I don’t like AI therapists because they are harmful!
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
It’s Earth Week! In this new series, members of our research network explore how communities have addressed the unequal power dynamics between tech production and deployment, and how tech impacts people’s everyday lives and the environment around them. datasociety.net/points/the-c...
April 21, 2025 at 4:08 PM
It’s Earth Week! In this new series, members of our research network explore how communities have addressed the unequal power dynamics between tech production and deployment, and how tech impacts people’s everyday lives and the environment around them. datasociety.net/points/the-c...
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
It's Fustilarian Friday, so here's the latest statement from NSF's director, trying to dodge the news cycle.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Updates on NSF Priorities
www.nsf.gov
April 18, 2025 at 9:07 PM
It's Fustilarian Friday, so here's the latest statement from NSF's director, trying to dodge the news cycle.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
All of this, all of it, is illegal. Congress appropriated that money, OUR money, to support research and invest in America’s future innovation.
It is not up to anyone in the Executive Branch to block it whenever they feel like it.
The other co-equal branches of government have a duty to end this
It is not up to anyone in the Executive Branch to block it whenever they feel like it.
The other co-equal branches of government have a duty to end this
Breaking News: The Trump administration has frozen more than $1 billion in funding for Cornell University and $790 million for Northwestern, two officials said.
Trump Officials Freeze $1 Billion for Cornell and $790 Million for Northwestern
The funding pause amid civil rights investigations into both universities sharply escalates the Trump administration’s campaign against elite colleges.
www.nytimes.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:45 AM
All of this, all of it, is illegal. Congress appropriated that money, OUR money, to support research and invest in America’s future innovation.
It is not up to anyone in the Executive Branch to block it whenever they feel like it.
The other co-equal branches of government have a duty to end this
It is not up to anyone in the Executive Branch to block it whenever they feel like it.
The other co-equal branches of government have a duty to end this
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
It’s so weird how we’re all just working like this is still a normal country.
March 31, 2025 at 9:25 PM
It’s so weird how we’re all just working like this is still a normal country.
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
if the government is willing to disappear immigrants for their writing, they’re willing to do the same to citizens.
March 28, 2025 at 12:49 PM
if the government is willing to disappear immigrants for their writing, they’re willing to do the same to citizens.
I wrote about therapy, platform intrusions, Virginia Woolf, and the need for trusted rooms of our own in these times 🪟 for The American Psychoanalyst 🛋️
In The American Psychoanalyst, D&S researcher @livgar.bsky.social reflects on how ideas about "women's work" — and the work of Virginia Woolf — have informed her research on therapeutic labor, teletherapy, and the platformization of mental health care. tapmagazine.org/all-articles...
A Room of (Almost) One’s Own — Tap Magazine
Therapeutic labor, women’s work, and the platform economy
tapmagazine.org
March 28, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I wrote about therapy, platform intrusions, Virginia Woolf, and the need for trusted rooms of our own in these times 🪟 for The American Psychoanalyst 🛋️
Reposted by Livia Garofalo
Powerful lawsuit, filed today, against the Trump administration's abhorrent policy of ideological deportation. @aaup.bsky.social, MESA, and AAUP chapters at Harvard, NYU, and Rutgers are co-plaintiffs: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US academic groups sue White House over planned deportations of pro-Gaza students
Trump administration is accused of inciting ‘climate of repression’ and stifling free speech on campuses, including Columbia University
www.theguardian.com
March 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Powerful lawsuit, filed today, against the Trump administration's abhorrent policy of ideological deportation. @aaup.bsky.social, MESA, and AAUP chapters at Harvard, NYU, and Rutgers are co-plaintiffs: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...