Baratunde
LightNews LightNews
banner
baratunde.com
Baratunde
@baratunde.com
26K followers 220 following 250 posts
host, writer, & speaker exploring interdependence across our relationships with nature, each other, and technology. Latest project is the YouTube podcast "Life With Machines." Other work includes: PBS's America Outdoors, How To Citizen podcast, and Puck
Posts Replies Media Videos
baratunde.com
I thought racist texts were QUALIFYING to get a job in this administration. Serious question: why have these GOP senators decided to oppose Ingrassia when they have opposed almost nothing else Trump wants?
October 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
baratunde.com
If you’re building the AI you think might destroy us… maybe you’re not the one who should “save” us from it. In this week's @lifewithmachines.bsky.social newsletter, we share news about Lighthaven, a semi-secret group in Berkeley. And other AI updates you should know. bit.ly/3UY4qt8
Illustration of a dark, Gothic-style mansion under a stormy night sky, lit by multiple bolts of lightning. The building has tall spires, glowing windows in orange, green, and blue, and a circular illuminated symbol above the entrance. A tattered arched banner at the top reads “LIGHTHAVEN MANOR.” Text in the lower half says “SECRETLY DEVELOPING AI TO SAVE HUMANITY FROM AI.” In the top left corner is the Life with Machines logo. Small caption text near the bottom left reads “Concept by @baratunde Image by ChatGPT & Unacknowledged Human Artists.”
August 14, 2025 at 3:14 PM
baratunde.com
In the future, kids may ask their grandparents, "Is it true that when you were young you used to think?" The rise of AI is pushing us to define what we want for our #LifeWithMachines. We're entering a new phase of this exploration. More clarity, critique, and creativity. Join us

bit.ly/3GY6D4z
Cartoon drawing: A young woman in futuristic VR gear labeled with a letter 'A' asks an elderly man sitting in an armchair, 'Grandpa, is it true that when you were young you used to think?' The man looks serious and slightly sad. A small Life With Machines logo appears between them. Caption at bottom left: 'Concept by @baratunde. Image by ChatGPT & Unacknowledged Human Artists.'
July 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
baratunde.com
AI is made of people. Data labelers, content moderators, gig workers. It's Soylent Green, all so we can convert angry emails into non-fireable communications

As @milamiceli.bsky.social shared, the more AI expands, the more human drudgery it creates. But it doesn't have to baratun.de/4eJjqEl
A distressed man (actor Charlton Heston) with wide eyes and an open mouth looks shocked. The meme text reads: “AI’S SECRET INGREDIENT” at the top and “IS PEOPLE” at the bottom, referencing Soylent Green while highlighting the hidden human labor behind artificial intelligence systems.
July 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
baratunde.com
I was in downtown #losangeles at the beginning of this week. The streets had a way different feel from what’s been on my screens. No signs of insurrection just love and peace. For more check out this full post open.substack.com/pub/baratund...
June 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
baratunde.com
Hi from downtown LA. We told yall. Folks said Trump wouldn’t do this. It’s the reason Hegseth was chosen. Because he would choose a man over the law. This was all so predicted. This is a mockery of whatever principles the US has claimed to uphold. This is an occupation. THIS is the invasion.
LA times cover: Camp Pendleton marines deployed to LA
June 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
baratunde.com
Can’t stop talking about #Sinners newsletter.baratunde.com/p/welcome-to...

#blacksky
May 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
baratunde.com
Siri: “something went wrong. Please try again.” That is literally the entire history of Siri. What an embarrassment.
Lock screen of an iPhone displaying a scenic lake surrounded by lush green pine-covered mountains under a partly cloudy sky. The water sparkles with sunlight reflections, and a line of partially submerged branches stretches across the lake. At the top, a notification banner reads: “Something went wrong. Please try again.” The time shown is 20:20, and the phone has 5G signal with a battery charge of 66%. A rainbow-colored vignette borders the screen. Flashlight and camera icons are visible at the bottom.
May 24, 2025 at 5:09 AM
baratunde.com
Had some fiery words to share for Lord Zuckerberg after he broke friendship and is now trying to sell us fake friends as an AI substitute. Sad wannabe-mafioso behavior. See the full rant newsletter.lifewithmachines.media/p/this-isnt-...
Baratunde Thurston speaks with emotion, wearing a denim jacket and gesturing with his hand. He is seated in front of blurred greenery. Overlaid quote reads: “We’re doing it again. Dehumanization as an intentional strategy of economic growth. We look at humans and see data to extract. Those doing the exploitation have to dehumanize themselves, severing their connection to what’s right in order to pursue what’s profitable. And we are invoking a new population of beings that aren’t human and can’t resist (at least not yet).” Text at the bottom highlights “Baratunde Thurston” and “lifewithmachines.media.” Baratunde Thurston speaks passionately into a handheld microphone on stage, wearing a white t-shirt. He leans forward mid-sentence, delivering a pointed critique. Overlaid quote reads: “So the guy who broke real friendship wants to offer up fake friends as the solution. Because he can sell them to you. How very organized crime of him. You break the store window, then sell protection to the owners. Create the illness, then sell the cure. Monetize the loneliness you helped cause. It’s brilliant. It’s terrifying. It should be criminal.” Text at the bottom reads: “Baratunde referring to Zuckerberg and his AI friends” and “lifewithmachines.media.” Baratunde Thurston smiles while seated at a podcast desk, wearing a gray button-down shirt and speaking into a broadcast mic. A leafy plant and wooden paneling decorate the background. Overlaid graphic reads: “Life with Machines — a tech show about humans, helping us make sense of how A.I.’s arrival is changing everything.” The bottom of the image features the website: “lifewithmachines.media.”
May 20, 2025 at 9:50 PM
baratunde.com
Today is my Liberation Day from #ElonMusk. I returned my #Tesla and regained some freedom and dignity.

Briefly joined anti-Musk, anti-Trump, #NoKings protest

Stay connected w me at newsletter.baratunde.com
April 27, 2025 at 8:25 PM
baratunde.com
Today's #HowWeCitizen story is about tech that serves the people because it's made WITH the people. We go to @chihacknight.org and #chicago to showcase a story that's the Anti-DOGE newsletter.baratunde.com/p/we-found-t...

#civictech #democracy
April 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
baratunde.com
IF YOU NEED INSPIRATION AND A REMINDER OF GOOD THINGS, CHECK THIS #HowWeCitizen story:

people in need don’t need other people telling them what they need. We all deserve dignity, agency, and the presumption of participation and value. Start with listening.

open.substack.com/pub/baratund...
April 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
baratunde.com
Even layoffs can be done with dignity. In today’s #WeekOfCitizening story, a company facing cuts involved the whole team. The result? Fewer layoffs, more humanity.

Have you seen hard decisions made with people, not for them? Tell us.

➡️ stories.howtocitizen.com

#HowWeCitizen
April 15, 2025 at 4:08 PM
baratunde.com
What if every public library in the world was a hub for civic power? Our 1st story from the #WeekOfCitizening features @enaesco.bsky.social and the Cossitt Library in #memphis.

Read more & signup newsletter.baratunde.com/p/1st-story-...

Loving this collab with @thecitizensguy.bsky.social
April 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
baratunde.com
#democracy is something we DO. Not something we have. This week we are sharing stories of people practicing democracy in beautiful, joyful, connected ways. If you want stories of this creativity and not just destruction join me and @thecitizensguy.bsky.social stories.howtocitizen.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:41 AM
baratunde.com
This is a failed strategy. Americans have no recent practice at solidarity. Individualism will be the death of a nation. So tragic. So avoidable. If every firm stuck to together nothing could stop them. But individualism is a helluva drug
April 12, 2025 at 3:41 AM
baratunde.com
What happens when you ask your custom A.I. to savagely roast #ElonMusk?

Check out @lifewithmachines.bsky.social for rare conversations & using code in service of humanity.

Our SXSW episode e @rahaf.bsky.social & @mattklinman.bsky.social is on YouTube / your podcast app.

youtu.be/Fkf-7uCuHv4?...
April 8, 2025 at 11:25 PM
baratunde.com
Sometimes four dimensional chess is just shitty chess.
A stock market summary screen showing significant declines. The Dow Jones is down 2,231 points to 38,314.86, the NASDAQ is down 962.82 points to 15,587.79, the S&P 500 is down 322.44 points to 5,074.08, and Apple Inc. (AAPL) is down 14.81 points to 188.38. A CNBC news headline below reports: “Dow drops 2,200 points Friday, S&P 500 loses 10% in 2 days as Trump’s tariff market rout deepens.”
April 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
baratunde.com
I don’t know who made this but I am grateful. A giant wedge of Swiss cheese crushing a heavily damaged #Tesla #Cybertruck on a city street, with the #Wisconsin State Capitol building visible in the background.
A surreal scene of a giant wedge of Swiss cheese crushing a heavily damaged Tesla Cybertruck on a city street, with the Wisconsin State Capitol building visible in the background.
April 3, 2025 at 12:50 AM
baratunde.com
Image shows Big Bird from Sesame Street standing awkwardly among a group of serious-looking Imperial officers and Darth Vader from Star Wars in a hallway on the Death Star. The caption reads, “When you’re accidentally included in a war plan group chat.”
Image shows Big Bird from Sesame Street standing awkwardly among a group of serious-looking Imperial officers and Darth Vader from Star Wars in a hallway on the Death Star. The humorous caption reads, “When you’re accidentally included in a war plan group chat.”
March 27, 2025 at 5:41 AM
baratunde.com
Oh, poor Little Marco.
March 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
baratunde.com
Yes! This is better. As far as lawyer billboards go.
A bold billboard advertisement for “Drake The Lawyer” with a purple gradient background reads, “INJURED? SQUABBLE UP.” The sign includes the website “DrakeTheLawyer.com” and labels him as an “Injury Attorney.” Below the billboard, a Denny’s restaurant sign is visible, promoting “mimosas, beer & wine.” A gas station and other signage appear in the background under a clear blue sky.
March 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
baratunde.com
Nope
March 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
baratunde.com
On my live stream this weekend someone asked what I thought the #democraticparty should do. Here’s my suggested path forward: solve people’s problems. Show notes and links and Substack signup available here open.substack.com/pub/baratund...
March 17, 2025 at 4:31 PM
baratunde.com
Why Chuck Schumer is so wrong
Screenshot of note with this text: This budget capitulation is an unsurprising problem. What Schumer and the party miss is that these times demand fight energy and vision. Chuck has neither. He feels and looks like a loser. People want to win. At a minimum they want to be part of an effort to win. This budget fight to me is not about legal arguments. It’s about energy. And Chuck has none. He shoulda been gone. We won’t just lose government institutions, global trust, and lives to this authoritarian fire. We will lose this version of the Democratic Party. And we should. So we can build up something new and actually useful. Give me literally any federal worker over Schumer
March 14, 2025 at 1:16 PM