Christopher Mims
@mims.bsky.social
WSJ tech columnist. Author of How to AI, a bullshit-free guide to how to get actual utility from AI, aimed at the skeptics who are tired of the hype surrounding it.
Pinned
Christopher Mims
@mims.bsky.social
· Jan 10
Feels strange to be promoting a book when things are the way they are but, here goes --
January 27, How To AI, my guide to AI for the rest of us -- including skeptics who want to better understand its limitations -- drops.
Pre-orders: sites.prh.com/how-to-ai
January 27, How To AI, my guide to AI for the rest of us -- including skeptics who want to better understand its limitations -- drops.
Pre-orders: sites.prh.com/how-to-ai
this re: the current state of AI is so true
like unless your job is to write novels or make art I guarantee there are some repetitive tasks you could automate away *today* with AI but you'd have to spend like, 10-100 hours learning it first
like unless your job is to write novels or make art I guarantee there are some repetitive tasks you could automate away *today* with AI but you'd have to spend like, 10-100 hours learning it first
Everyone has been given a free Ferrari, but it’s got a manual transmission and some weird requirements so it takes a little skill and effort. Most just stare at it. Some jump in and grind gears. A bunch drive into the wall. Others complain it’s not a teleportation device. All fools. A few just zoom.
February 11, 2026 at 6:51 PM
this re: the current state of AI is so true
like unless your job is to write novels or make art I guarantee there are some repetitive tasks you could automate away *today* with AI but you'd have to spend like, 10-100 hours learning it first
like unless your job is to write novels or make art I guarantee there are some repetitive tasks you could automate away *today* with AI but you'd have to spend like, 10-100 hours learning it first
Reposted by Christopher Mims
Reposted by Christopher Mims
The way I look at this is whether or not the hype winds up bearing out—or even a fraction of it—we need to prepare for a long future in which bosses + management are incentivized at every level to proceed as if it's true; cutting labor costs, automating tasks, killing jobs.
I understand why people are exhausted by AI hype, and why those of us squarely in the corner of "human dignity uber alles" see AI doomerism as self-serving hype, but I *really* think people on the left broadly need to start thinking seriously about the possibiltiy of the hype being...true.
February 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The way I look at this is whether or not the hype winds up bearing out—or even a fraction of it—we need to prepare for a long future in which bosses + management are incentivized at every level to proceed as if it's true; cutting labor costs, automating tasks, killing jobs.
Reposted by Christopher Mims
This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.
February 11, 2026 at 4:46 PM
This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.
Coders freaking out that it's replacing them and extrapolating from their extremely weird domain (as in: unusual among knowledge work) to "all of work" is going to be a major theme of 2026 and kind of embarrassing by 2027.
twitter essay designed to one-shot bosses everywhere x.com/mattshumer_/...
Matt Shumer on X: "Something Big Is Happening" / X
Something Big Is Happening
x.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Coders freaking out that it's replacing them and extrapolating from their extremely weird domain (as in: unusual among knowledge work) to "all of work" is going to be a major theme of 2026 and kind of embarrassing by 2027.
Reposted by Christopher Mims
Grand jury fails to indict Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to disobey any illegal orders from President Trump. https://cnn.it/4apwQ6u
February 11, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Grand jury fails to indict Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to disobey any illegal orders from President Trump. https://cnn.it/4apwQ6u
Flu kills half a million people every year
FDA refuses to review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
FDA refuses to review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine
The move comes amid RFK Jr.'s relentless efforts to enact his anti-vaccine agenda.
arstechnica.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Flu kills half a million people every year
is there any good news? I would like some of that
February 11, 2026 at 1:05 PM
is there any good news? I would like some of that
Reposted by Christopher Mims
(CNN) - The United States has fallen to its worst-ever position in a leading global index that measures perception of corruption in the public sector among independent experts and businesspeople.
@cnn.com
www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/b...
@cnn.com
www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/b...
February 10, 2026 at 7:25 PM
(CNN) - The United States has fallen to its worst-ever position in a leading global index that measures perception of corruption in the public sector among independent experts and businesspeople.
@cnn.com
www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/b...
@cnn.com
www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/b...
really cannot emphasize enough that the dawn of "physical intelligence" will present barriers to AI adoption and a need for vetting and algorithmic auditing that will make many of the firms rushing to occupy this space quake in their boots
When AI was added to a tool for sinus surgery: “Cerebrospinal fluid leaked from one patient’s nose. In another… a surgeon mistakenly punctured the base of a patient’s skull. In two other cases, patients suffered strokes after a major artery was accidentally injured”
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts
Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...
www.reuters.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:34 PM
really cannot emphasize enough that the dawn of "physical intelligence" will present barriers to AI adoption and a need for vetting and algorithmic auditing that will make many of the firms rushing to occupy this space quake in their boots
Reposted by Christopher Mims
For those familiar w/ "ARkStorm/ARk2.0" flood scenarios for California, a comparable event has been unfolding on the Iberian Peninsula. These ridiculous rainfall accumulations, caused by a long series of extremely moist atmospheric rivers, have brought widespread severe flooding to Spain & Portugal.
Grazalema, Spain, received over 2,000 mm (78 inches) of rain in just the last 20 days.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
February 10, 2026 at 5:03 AM
For those familiar w/ "ARkStorm/ARk2.0" flood scenarios for California, a comparable event has been unfolding on the Iberian Peninsula. These ridiculous rainfall accumulations, caused by a long series of extremely moist atmospheric rivers, have brought widespread severe flooding to Spain & Portugal.
I understand why tech journalists in particular continue to look at X (it's where people we cover like to post stuff) but I don't understand why they post there.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
No-one seems to have noticed, but many of the core developments in the Mandelson/Epstein story these last few days have been broken on this website. @pickardje.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social are both posting each breaking development on BlueSky, not X.
February 10, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I understand why tech journalists in particular continue to look at X (it's where people we cover like to post stuff) but I don't understand why they post there.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
Moral qualms aside, it has zero juice in terms of generating discussion or clicks.
These things could be huge for people's utility bills all over America, one of those quiet revolutions happening in plain sight.
(Of course we also desperately need everyone to get home energy audits and seal all their drafts, we also need to make window inserts standard practice in all buildings)
(Of course we also desperately need everyone to get home energy audits and seal all their drafts, we also need to make window inserts standard practice in all buildings)
Meet the window heat pump: A compact unit that's relatively cheap and takes half an hour to install.
While they're not widely available yet, they could prove to be an important climate solution in the future.
@wbur.org #energysky #decarbonization
www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...
While they're not widely available yet, they could prove to be an important climate solution in the future.
@wbur.org #energysky #decarbonization
www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...
Boston is piloting a new type of heat pump that's as easy to install as a window AC
The Boston Housing Authority is piloting a new type of window-mounted heat pump that's relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
www.wbur.org
February 10, 2026 at 12:50 PM
These things could be huge for people's utility bills all over America, one of those quiet revolutions happening in plain sight.
(Of course we also desperately need everyone to get home energy audits and seal all their drafts, we also need to make window inserts standard practice in all buildings)
(Of course we also desperately need everyone to get home energy audits and seal all their drafts, we also need to make window inserts standard practice in all buildings)
Reposted by Christopher Mims
In 1943, musician Woody Guthrie placed a message on his guitar: "This machine kills fascists."
I am part of a group that's shipped half a million free 3D-printed whistles to defend against ICE — 200,000 of them in the first week of February alone.
This is the story of the "Whistle Crew."
I am part of a group that's shipped half a million free 3D-printed whistles to defend against ICE — 200,000 of them in the first week of February alone.
This is the story of the "Whistle Crew."
This whistle fights fascists
I print whistles now. You can too.
www.theverge.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:38 PM
In 1943, musician Woody Guthrie placed a message on his guitar: "This machine kills fascists."
I am part of a group that's shipped half a million free 3D-printed whistles to defend against ICE — 200,000 of them in the first week of February alone.
This is the story of the "Whistle Crew."
I am part of a group that's shipped half a million free 3D-printed whistles to defend against ICE — 200,000 of them in the first week of February alone.
This is the story of the "Whistle Crew."
Geoff Fowler is a national treasure and it sucks he was laid off by @washingtonpost.com .com -- which now has 0 reporters covering Amazon. 🤔
Anyway, check out what he wrote now that he's been unleashed.
Anyway, check out what he wrote now that he's been unleashed.
For 8 years my stories had to include: "Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, but I review all technology with the same critical eye."
Not anymore. My first Substack is about what it was like covering Amazon while Bezos paid my salary—and why tech accountability matters more than ever bit.ly/4rAmcRn
Not anymore. My first Substack is about what it was like covering Amazon while Bezos paid my salary—and why tech accountability matters more than ever bit.ly/4rAmcRn
The truth about covering tech at Bezos’s Washington Post
And why ‘We the users’ matters more than ever
bit.ly
February 9, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Geoff Fowler is a national treasure and it sucks he was laid off by @washingtonpost.com .com -- which now has 0 reporters covering Amazon. 🤔
Anyway, check out what he wrote now that he's been unleashed.
Anyway, check out what he wrote now that he's been unleashed.
Reposted by Christopher Mims
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
ICE to begin detaining immigrants inside Social Circle warehouse in April
Homeland Security plans to build warehouse detention facilities in other cities being met with opposition.
www.ajc.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:56 PM
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
sometimes I think about how the invention of a new medium (photography, interchangeable parts / mass manufacture) pretty much destroys some craft or artistic practice (taxonomical drawing, portraiture, hand-made furniture)
I feel like this is soon going to happen to ... software?
I feel like this is soon going to happen to ... software?
🌊 Voyage autour du monde sur la frégate la Vénus
Paris: Gide et J. Baudry, 1846 [atlas]-1855 [text]
[Source]
Paris: Gide et J. Baudry, 1846 [atlas]-1855 [text]
[Source]
February 9, 2026 at 7:20 PM
sometimes I think about how the invention of a new medium (photography, interchangeable parts / mass manufacture) pretty much destroys some craft or artistic practice (taxonomical drawing, portraiture, hand-made furniture)
I feel like this is soon going to happen to ... software?
I feel like this is soon going to happen to ... software?
there's this great line in the New Yorker 100th anniversary documentary when film critic Richard Brody says "I read coffee can prolong your life -- I drink so much that I must be immortal"
Got no worries about dementia. My body is 90% coffee.
2 to 3 Cups of Coffee a Day May Reduce Dementia Risk. But Not if It’s Decaf. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/h...
2 to 3 Cups of Coffee a Day May Reduce Dementia Risk. But Not if It’s Decaf. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/h...
2 to 3 Cups of Coffee a Day May Reduce Dementia Risk. But Not if It’s Decaf.
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:15 PM
there's this great line in the New Yorker 100th anniversary documentary when film critic Richard Brody says "I read coffee can prolong your life -- I drink so much that I must be immortal"
this is a thing that I don't think the hyperscalers are thinking about enough -- what happens when most models are "good enough" & their endless training runs become redundant and then the only game is how efficiently can you deliver tokens?
looking at people posting coding benchmarks
February 9, 2026 at 3:36 PM
this is a thing that I don't think the hyperscalers are thinking about enough -- what happens when most models are "good enough" & their endless training runs become redundant and then the only game is how efficiently can you deliver tokens?
occasionally I post a half-formed thought & someone takes it on bad faith and it's always such a clarifying moment about whom I should block
February 9, 2026 at 3:31 PM
occasionally I post a half-formed thought & someone takes it on bad faith and it's always such a clarifying moment about whom I should block
I help people use AI for all kinds of things -- including writing -- and yet I totally agree with this.
There is writing for communication & there is writing as art and I have no idea how AI could ever be a part of the latter
There is writing for communication & there is writing as art and I have no idea how AI could ever be a part of the latter
Read that article about the """writer""" generating 200 books a year with AI and needless to say, I had THOUGHTS
Writers Who Use AI Are Not Real Writers
Dorothy Parker famously (but probably not really) said, “I hate to write, but I love having written,” which is a sentiment I don’t largely understand or agree with in the broader …
terribleminds.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:30 PM
I help people use AI for all kinds of things -- including writing -- and yet I totally agree with this.
There is writing for communication & there is writing as art and I have no idea how AI could ever be a part of the latter
There is writing for communication & there is writing as art and I have no idea how AI could ever be a part of the latter
Reposted by Christopher Mims
“Around 3,500 detainees, more than half of them minors, have cycled through the center… There were children in Dilley who were so distraught they cut themselves or talked about suicide… Moms told me that their kids had lost their appetites after finding worms and mold on their food…”
NEW: ProPublica went inside the detention center for immigrant families in Dilley, Texas.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center
ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...
www.propublica.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:59 PM
“Around 3,500 detainees, more than half of them minors, have cycled through the center… There were children in Dilley who were so distraught they cut themselves or talked about suicide… Moms told me that their kids had lost their appetites after finding worms and mold on their food…”
Reposted by Christopher Mims
What's that? You say you want to learn more about Puerto Rico's electricity grid?
Puerto Rico's electricity crisis
In this episode, lawyer and activist Ruth Santiago discusses Puerto Rico's latest electricity crisis, as the island struggles to restore power in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. In the wake of Hurricane ...
www.volts.wtf
February 9, 2026 at 5:46 AM
What's that? You say you want to learn more about Puerto Rico's electricity grid?
Reposted by Christopher Mims
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Reposted by Christopher Mims
Amongst other things, this again highlights the core point about due process. It’s bad enough to be in a “show me your papers” situation, but your precious citizen/non-citizen, “legal”/“illegal” distinctions are meaningless when you can’t prove anything to authorities because they don’t give a shit.
And here is my story: ‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Amongst other things, this again highlights the core point about due process. It’s bad enough to be in a “show me your papers” situation, but your precious citizen/non-citizen, “legal”/“illegal” distinctions are meaningless when you can’t prove anything to authorities because they don’t give a shit.