SPJ
@scottpjohnson.com
LLMs are the automated version of the spiritualist practice of automatic writing
this feels like an incredible new urban legend taking shape on reddit otoh I've lowkey seen this happen. like jerusalem syndrome but for talking to the computer
April 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
LLMs are the automated version of the spiritualist practice of automatic writing
Moving from my pseudo account that was on scores of starter packs to this account that had never posted before was really revealing that there is, in fact, a (likely automated) mass spam followers problem on here
April 29, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Moving from my pseudo account that was on scores of starter packs to this account that had never posted before was really revealing that there is, in fact, a (likely automated) mass spam followers problem on here
Reposted by SPJ
I like the term 'convergent evidence'. On first glance at least, it appears to be doing a lot of good work.
But I am interested to hear the views of other historians and philosophers of science?
#hps #philsci #histSTM
But I am interested to hear the views of other historians and philosophers of science?
#hps #philsci #histSTM
Interesting opinion in Science suggesting to replace 'scientific consensus' with convergent evidence.
Because it is less easily derailed by quoting one dissenting opinion.
Seems like a good idea!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Because it is less easily derailed by quoting one dissenting opinion.
Seems like a good idea!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Convergence and consensus
In these days of political instability, geopolitical tensions, and social discontent around the world, there are continued threats to the principles, conduct, and findings of science. This assault on ...
www.science.org
April 26, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Reposted by SPJ
In a few years (max) when people start asking why we thought AI was a good idea I am creating a record that we did NOT think it was a good idea and the main reason people were ever convinced was billions of dollars of propaganda
April 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
In a few years (max) when people start asking why we thought AI was a good idea I am creating a record that we did NOT think it was a good idea and the main reason people were ever convinced was billions of dollars of propaganda
Reposted by SPJ
Decades of building an informational universe in which loyalty and loudness are the central virtues has resulted in a president and a senior team unprepared for reality. Gift link: wapo.st/44ce0i3
Opinion | The bubble that created Trump is the reason he’s stumbling
The White House is now a bubble where loyalty, not ability, defines success.
wapo.st
April 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Decades of building an informational universe in which loyalty and loudness are the central virtues has resulted in a president and a senior team unprepared for reality. Gift link: wapo.st/44ce0i3
Reposted by SPJ
Surrounding yourself with people who are terrified to give you bad news really fucks with your perception of reality.
www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
As his approval rating sinks, Trump wants investigations into pollsters
Instead of dealing with the failures that have led to his drop in support, the president is blaming pollsters and news organizations.
www.msnbc.com
April 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Surrounding yourself with people who are terrified to give you bad news really fucks with your perception of reality.
www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Reposted by SPJ
Ongoing pattern that extends from foreign students, to Governors, to CEOs. Presenting any information that undermines the state narrative is "hostile" with the implication that it will be punished with retribution from the state.
This is the strategy of a weak regime afraid of transparency.
This is the strategy of a weak regime afraid of transparency.
REPORTER: Amazon will soon display a number next to the price of each product that shows how much the Trump tariffs are adding. Isn't that a perfect demonstration that it's the American consumer who is paying for these policies?
LEAVITT: This is a hostile and political act by Amazon.
LEAVITT: This is a hostile and political act by Amazon.
April 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Ongoing pattern that extends from foreign students, to Governors, to CEOs. Presenting any information that undermines the state narrative is "hostile" with the implication that it will be punished with retribution from the state.
This is the strategy of a weak regime afraid of transparency.
This is the strategy of a weak regime afraid of transparency.
Reposted by SPJ
"How American Influencers Built a World Wide Web of Vaccine Disinformation" www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
How American influencers built a world wide web of vaccine disinformation
“You get the distinct feeling that there is a massive sea change occurring.”
www.motherjones.com
April 28, 2025 at 10:52 PM
"How American Influencers Built a World Wide Web of Vaccine Disinformation" www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by SPJ
i think once you understand the scale of the AI project, you understand why some involved think they are creating god. because what other goal would justify such effort? it's like the pyramids of ancient egypt. they were built not just by levers and pulleys, but by a belief in something even bigger
April 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
i think once you understand the scale of the AI project, you understand why some involved think they are creating god. because what other goal would justify such effort? it's like the pyramids of ancient egypt. they were built not just by levers and pulleys, but by a belief in something even bigger
Reposted by SPJ
i look at the soaring energy demands, the internet-size scraping efforts, the DOGE impulse to govern via algorithm, and it really does seem like we are feeding society itself into the hyperobject we call AI. shoveling everything we can into the turbines in hopes of reaching escape velocity
April 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
i look at the soaring energy demands, the internet-size scraping efforts, the DOGE impulse to govern via algorithm, and it really does seem like we are feeding society itself into the hyperobject we call AI. shoveling everything we can into the turbines in hopes of reaching escape velocity
Reposted by SPJ
pretty fucking wild to read a story that confirms there *is* an elite cabal of some of the country's wealthiest and most influential people and they *are* coordinating strategy and tactics to try to control global opinion, it's just not any of the the cabals tinfoil hatters have always assumed
actually, no, this is what basically every single left-of-center person who is very online has thought for years, mark halperin, this is not actually surprising at all, this is just confirmation of what everyone has assumed
April 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
pretty fucking wild to read a story that confirms there *is* an elite cabal of some of the country's wealthiest and most influential people and they *are* coordinating strategy and tactics to try to control global opinion, it's just not any of the the cabals tinfoil hatters have always assumed
Reposted by SPJ
Reposted by SPJ
doge on classified networks w/ nuke secrets, report @gbrumfiel.bsky.social & @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social:
DOGE employees gain accounts on classified networks holding nuclear secrets
Two DOGE employees have access to a network used to transmit classified nuclear weapons data and a separate network used by the Department of Defense, sources tell NPR.
www.npr.org
April 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
doge on classified networks w/ nuke secrets, report @gbrumfiel.bsky.social & @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social:
Reposted by SPJ
Reposted by SPJ
New from 404 Media: researchers secretly ran massive, unauthorized AI-powered persuasion experiment on Reddit users. Researchers planted bots posing as a sexual assault survivor, a Black man, etc into a popular debate subreddit. We spoke to the mods, said unethical
www.404media.co/researchers-...
www.404media.co/researchers-...
Researchers Secretly Ran a Massive, Unauthorized AI Persuasion Experiment on Reddit Users
The researchers' bots generated identities as a sexual assault survivor, a trauma counselor, and a Black man opposed to Black Lives Matter.
www.404media.co
April 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
New from 404 Media: researchers secretly ran massive, unauthorized AI-powered persuasion experiment on Reddit users. Researchers planted bots posing as a sexual assault survivor, a Black man, etc into a popular debate subreddit. We spoke to the mods, said unethical
www.404media.co/researchers-...
www.404media.co/researchers-...
Reposted by SPJ
If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from reporting on the current DOGE collection of govt data, it is that the people who’ve previously spent their careers carefully handling this information believe there is almost no limit to how it could be abused (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
American Panopticon
The Trump administration is pooling data on Americans. Experts fear what comes next.
www.theatlantic.com
April 27, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from reporting on the current DOGE collection of govt data, it is that the people who’ve previously spent their careers carefully handling this information believe there is almost no limit to how it could be abused (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Reposted by SPJ
what is even going on anymore
April 27, 2025 at 11:31 PM
what is even going on anymore
Reposted by SPJ
Reminder: Wikipedia actually had to get third-party assessments of its reliability done. As of several years ago, it was more reliable than print encyclopedias.
I do genuinely wonder how many people think what happened with Wikipedia is that “society accepted it” rather than that they put a ton of work into making it reliable, something that is not going to make AI reliable because no technology to actually understand meaning has been or can be invented.
Some of the anti-AI stuff feels a bit like when people would say "don't use Wikipedia as a source." It's just like anything else, a piece of information that you weigh against multiple sources and your own understanding of its likely failure modes
April 27, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reminder: Wikipedia actually had to get third-party assessments of its reliability done. As of several years ago, it was more reliable than print encyclopedias.
Reposted by SPJ
Justice Department halts funds for programs for victims of hate crimes, child abuse, school violence and more
www.cbsnews.com/news/federal...
www.cbsnews.com/news/federal...
Justice Department halts funds for programs for victims of hate crimes, child abuse, school violence and more
At least two of the 365 grants have since been restored. Nonprofits call it a "devastating blow."
www.cbsnews.com
April 27, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Justice Department halts funds for programs for victims of hate crimes, child abuse, school violence and more
www.cbsnews.com/news/federal...
www.cbsnews.com/news/federal...
Reposted by SPJ
Have you heard of 'vegetative electron microscopy'? Probably not — but AI has. Here's a case with evidence of AI contamination, showing how digital artifacts, like fossils in rock, could become permanent fixtures in our information ecosystem. www.sciencealert.com/a-strange-ph...
A Strange Phrase Keeps Turning Up in Scientific Papers, But Why?
Earlier this year, scientists discovered a peculiar term appearing in published papers: "vegetative electron microscopy".
www.sciencealert.com
April 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Have you heard of 'vegetative electron microscopy'? Probably not — but AI has. Here's a case with evidence of AI contamination, showing how digital artifacts, like fossils in rock, could become permanent fixtures in our information ecosystem. www.sciencealert.com/a-strange-ph...
Reposted by SPJ
Devoured @leahsottile.bsky.social's new book, “Blazing Eye Sees All.” The hook is the Love Has Won cult but it’s really a history of fascism and the New Age. Conspirituality is nothing new, woo and hate go way back. Highly recommended.
April 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Devoured @leahsottile.bsky.social's new book, “Blazing Eye Sees All.” The hook is the Love Has Won cult but it’s really a history of fascism and the New Age. Conspirituality is nothing new, woo and hate go way back. Highly recommended.
Just finished reading this and it is incredibly good
Out today: Blazing Eye Sees All, my investigation into the wide spiritual world of the New Age. It is an unintentional story of extremism, feminism, climate change, deception, power, myth and the very nature of believing. I hope you read it.
bookshop.org/p/books/blaz...
bookshop.org/p/books/blaz...
Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age
Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age
bookshop.org
April 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Just finished reading this and it is incredibly good
Reposted by SPJ
Worth noting that Wikipedia had to meet *existing* scientific knowledge-legitimation standards to be accepted: cite, verify, revise. GenAI simply hasn’t been held to the same standards. Which allows people, including academics who should know better, to pretend that it’s a knowledge-generating tech.
I do genuinely wonder how many people think what happened with Wikipedia is that “society accepted it” rather than that they put a ton of work into making it reliable, something that is not going to make AI reliable because no technology to actually understand meaning has been or can be invented.
Some of the anti-AI stuff feels a bit like when people would say "don't use Wikipedia as a source." It's just like anything else, a piece of information that you weigh against multiple sources and your own understanding of its likely failure modes
April 27, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Worth noting that Wikipedia had to meet *existing* scientific knowledge-legitimation standards to be accepted: cite, verify, revise. GenAI simply hasn’t been held to the same standards. Which allows people, including academics who should know better, to pretend that it’s a knowledge-generating tech.