Elke Schwarz
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social
Professor of Political Theory. Technology, politics, ethics and war are my main preoccupations. Lately also the Apocalypse.
Pinned
Elke Schwarz
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social
· Jan 16
The Silicon Valley venture capitalists who want to ‘move fast and break things’ in the defence industry
Enormous sums of venture capital money and influence is pouring into a defence industry which is being reshaped in the image of Silicon Valley.
theconversation.com
Curious about the role of VC influence in defence but no time to read my full research artice? I have a shorter version of the @finandsoc.bsky.social article on VC and military AI up now with @theconversation.com. Check it out! theconversation.com/the-silicon-...
Reposted by Elke Schwarz
"'Wir leben im Kapitalismus. Seine Macht scheint unausweichlich. Aber das galt auch für das göttliche Recht der Könige', sagte Le Guin in ihrer Rede von 2014. Ihr Wort macht Hoffnung. Bis heute."
Alles könnte auch ganz anders sein
Wie das literarische Werk von Ursula K. Le Guin den Blick auf die Welt verändert.
www.republik.ch
November 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
"'Wir leben im Kapitalismus. Seine Macht scheint unausweichlich. Aber das galt auch für das göttliche Recht der Könige', sagte Le Guin in ihrer Rede von 2014. Ihr Wort macht Hoffnung. Bis heute."
I am not even three minutes into that Axios / Karp interview and already I am slightly lost for words when this weapon system CEO describes that their software can also cover that "kind of sexy violent part of war" for commanders .... That sexy violent part of war. Honestly.
November 11, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I am not even three minutes into that Axios / Karp interview and already I am slightly lost for words when this weapon system CEO describes that their software can also cover that "kind of sexy violent part of war" for commanders .... That sexy violent part of war. Honestly.
The power of lobbying ...
November 11, 2025 at 6:22 AM
The power of lobbying ...
The entire speech is an ode to the venture capital dynamic. He lays out five points that mould defence to the needs of VC (my words, not his). Important: he will remove "anything that unnecessarily slows down government contracts". In line with the playbook theconversation.com/the-silicon-...
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The entire speech is an ode to the venture capital dynamic. He lays out five points that mould defence to the needs of VC (my words, not his). Important: he will remove "anything that unnecessarily slows down government contracts". In line with the playbook theconversation.com/the-silicon-...
This is precisely it: lack of consent is central. That is why regulation is seen as such a hindrance. Regulation embodies the requirement that others, affected by the technology, should be taken into account, if not, give consent.
🙏🏼 Far too many seem to believe that AI represents our future (whether we want it or not), & fail to come to grips with the fact that AI is only capable of recycling the past…& almost completely on artifacts of the past gathered & used without consent. Lack of consent is central to the enterprise.
November 9, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This is precisely it: lack of consent is central. That is why regulation is seen as such a hindrance. Regulation embodies the requirement that others, affected by the technology, should be taken into account, if not, give consent.
I’ve been hoping someone would do this mapping! Very useful
Please take a minute to scroll through this—and share it.
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
November 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I’ve been hoping someone would do this mapping! Very useful
These two headlines tell a most dystopian story about the current state of affairs.
November 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM
These two headlines tell a most dystopian story about the current state of affairs.
That's also what they indicated in their IPO S1 form back in 2020: "We are working towards becoming the default operating system across the U.S. government. Our victory in federal court now makes that possible." This has been the growth strategy (p.7). www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
November 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
That's also what they indicated in their IPO S1 form back in 2020: "We are working towards becoming the default operating system across the U.S. government. Our victory in federal court now makes that possible." This has been the growth strategy (p.7). www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
@danmcquillan.bsky.social is right. The emperor's advocates, too, know there are no clothes
Eric Schmidt – AI bubble is great!
Sam Altman – we’re making a very aggressive infrastructure bet – we need the whole of industry to support it.
Alex Karp – PEOPLE SHORTING AI COMPANIES ARE BATSHIT CRAZY
Eric Schmidt – AI bubble is great!
Sam Altman – we’re making a very aggressive infrastructure bet – we need the whole of industry to support it.
Alex Karp – PEOPLE SHORTING AI COMPANIES ARE BATSHIT CRAZY
If your organisation still feels the need to start any questioning of AI with "We recognise that AI has huge potential to help with XYZ, but.." then they're still not free of the hype. It's past the time for fake even-handedness, and the AI emperor has no clothes.
November 5, 2025 at 8:08 AM
@danmcquillan.bsky.social is right. The emperor's advocates, too, know there are no clothes
Eric Schmidt – AI bubble is great!
Sam Altman – we’re making a very aggressive infrastructure bet – we need the whole of industry to support it.
Alex Karp – PEOPLE SHORTING AI COMPANIES ARE BATSHIT CRAZY
Eric Schmidt – AI bubble is great!
Sam Altman – we’re making a very aggressive infrastructure bet – we need the whole of industry to support it.
Alex Karp – PEOPLE SHORTING AI COMPANIES ARE BATSHIT CRAZY
Reposted by Elke Schwarz
Huge thank you to our contributors, including:
🔹 @tariqmodood.bsky.social
🔹 @martinoneill.bsky.social
🔹 @jowolff.bsky.social
🔹 @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
And to @halcyene.bsky.social and Professor David Archard for editing the collection.
🔹 @tariqmodood.bsky.social
🔹 @martinoneill.bsky.social
🔹 @jowolff.bsky.social
🔹 @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
And to @halcyene.bsky.social and Professor David Archard for editing the collection.
November 3, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Huge thank you to our contributors, including:
🔹 @tariqmodood.bsky.social
🔹 @martinoneill.bsky.social
🔹 @jowolff.bsky.social
🔹 @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
And to @halcyene.bsky.social and Professor David Archard for editing the collection.
🔹 @tariqmodood.bsky.social
🔹 @martinoneill.bsky.social
🔹 @jowolff.bsky.social
🔹 @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
And to @halcyene.bsky.social and Professor David Archard for editing the collection.
Delighted and grateful to @halcyene.bsky.social to have a short piece in this excellent collection. What a great initiative, all open access. Check it out below
"The point is to change it" — a volume of new essays from 21 leading academics exploring the role of philosophy in public life — launches today!
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Essays on philosophy in public life - Nuffield Foundation
www.nuffieldfoundation.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Delighted and grateful to @halcyene.bsky.social to have a short piece in this excellent collection. What a great initiative, all open access. Check it out below
Reposted by Elke Schwarz
"The point is to change it" — a volume of new essays from 21 leading academics exploring the role of philosophy in public life — launches today!
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Essays on philosophy in public life - Nuffield Foundation
www.nuffieldfoundation.org
November 3, 2025 at 9:47 AM
"The point is to change it" — a volume of new essays from 21 leading academics exploring the role of philosophy in public life — launches today!
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Contributors include @tariqmodood.bsky.social, @martinoneill.bsky.social, @jowolff.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and more.
Click below to read 👇🦉
Just triangulating some of the vibes in this interview ...
November 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Just triangulating some of the vibes in this interview ...
I do wonder also if it is a version of offering "not a unified propaganda line but rather contradictory versions of reality, and in many different forms" as @anneapplebaum.bsky.social Applebaum writes here www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
October 30, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I do wonder also if it is a version of offering "not a unified propaganda line but rather contradictory versions of reality, and in many different forms" as @anneapplebaum.bsky.social Applebaum writes here www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Today at lunchtime. Come join the discussion 👇
Tomorrow, 28th October at 12:00, tune in to the Mile End Institute's webinar to hear BFPG Director, Evie Aspinall, and fellow panellists discussing Britain's role in Ukraine, and the implications for UK foreign and domestic policy.
Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 28, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Today at lunchtime. Come join the discussion 👇
Reposted by Elke Schwarz
At lunchtime today, we'll be exploring the policy implications of supporting Ukraine until the end, inspired by @ldfreedman.bsky.social's "Hennessy Lecture".
You can book your place to hear @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social🔽
You can book your place to hear @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social🔽
Tomorrow, 28th October at 12:00, tune in to the Mile End Institute's webinar to hear BFPG Director, Evie Aspinall, and fellow panellists discussing Britain's role in Ukraine, and the implications for UK foreign and domestic policy.
Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 28, 2025 at 9:14 AM
At lunchtime today, we'll be exploring the policy implications of supporting Ukraine until the end, inspired by @ldfreedman.bsky.social's "Hennessy Lecture".
You can book your place to hear @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social🔽
You can book your place to hear @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social🔽
It's funny that for any even remotely human-related study we have to fill in reams of paperwork for an ethics evaluation and these loss-making, overhyped companies are just able to experiment on humans and society with clearly harmful products without any restraint. Why?
The fact that these are the numbers the company will put on the record … www.wired.com/story/chatgp...
OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every Week
OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every Week
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM
It's funny that for any even remotely human-related study we have to fill in reams of paperwork for an ethics evaluation and these loss-making, overhyped companies are just able to experiment on humans and society with clearly harmful products without any restraint. Why?
It never ceases to amaze me that in a story like this, nobody mentions the intrinsic technological limitations which make it unlikely that LLMs will reliably function as promoted here, particularly not in something so adversarial by nature as war.
On an airstrip somewhere in Texas, a swarm of killer jets approaches—controlled by, of all things, a large language model.
This is the rise of the killer chatbots.
AI as weapon by @willknight.bsky.social
This is the rise of the killer chatbots.
AI as weapon by @willknight.bsky.social
Rise of the Killer Chatbots
On an airstrip somewhere in Texas, a swarm of killer jets approaches—controlled by, of all things, a large language model.
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:47 PM
It never ceases to amaze me that in a story like this, nobody mentions the intrinsic technological limitations which make it unlikely that LLMs will reliably function as promoted here, particularly not in something so adversarial by nature as war.
In the current defence / tech investment & spending frenzy, this is really important to keep in mind. Security happens at many levels, and safety & security at local levels are crucial for a strong society & economy. Betting on growth via defence & AI at the expense of local authorities is foolish.
Local government isn’t “boring bureaucracy.” It’s social care, housing, libraries, leisure centres, youth clubs.
When these vanish, communities fracture – and people notice. When local government breaks, so does trust in politics itself.
When these vanish, communities fracture – and people notice. When local government breaks, so does trust in politics itself.
New report confirms local government crisis is growing
The Institute for Government’ annual review of the state of local government, published last week, paints an alarming picture
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
In the current defence / tech investment & spending frenzy, this is really important to keep in mind. Security happens at many levels, and safety & security at local levels are crucial for a strong society & economy. Betting on growth via defence & AI at the expense of local authorities is foolish.
Reposted by Elke Schwarz
I’m going to have to tap the sign again aren’t I:
STOP ANTHROPORMORPHISING LLMS
They don’t have a “drive”, they don’t “resist”, this language use is really dangerous, as it sets the wrong expectations of what the tech can do! Arghhhhh!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
STOP ANTHROPORMORPHISING LLMS
They don’t have a “drive”, they don’t “resist”, this language use is really dangerous, as it sets the wrong expectations of what the tech can do! Arghhhhh!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
AI models may be developing their own ‘survival drive’, researchers say
Like 2001: A Space Odyssey’s HAL 9000, some AIs seem to resist being turned off and will even sabotage shutdown
www.theguardian.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I’m going to have to tap the sign again aren’t I:
STOP ANTHROPORMORPHISING LLMS
They don’t have a “drive”, they don’t “resist”, this language use is really dangerous, as it sets the wrong expectations of what the tech can do! Arghhhhh!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
STOP ANTHROPORMORPHISING LLMS
They don’t have a “drive”, they don’t “resist”, this language use is really dangerous, as it sets the wrong expectations of what the tech can do! Arghhhhh!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
This gets at the heart of the matter. The capabilities of generative AI are in tension with the needs and dynamics of sound social functioning. The speculative promises of AI clash ever-more visibly and starkly with the harmful realities of this technology for society.
The AI industry wants us to believe AI superintelligence is the real threat from generative AI.
But that narrative was crafted to distract from the many ways genAI is being used to tear our societies apart, as we saw this week when a deepfake video rocked the Irish election. It must be reined in.
But that narrative was crafted to distract from the many ways genAI is being used to tear our societies apart, as we saw this week when a deepfake video rocked the Irish election. It must be reined in.
Generative AI is a societal disaster
Governments are deluding themselves into believing investment justifies allowing AI to upend society
disconnect.blog
October 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
This gets at the heart of the matter. The capabilities of generative AI are in tension with the needs and dynamics of sound social functioning. The speculative promises of AI clash ever-more visibly and starkly with the harmful realities of this technology for society.
Reposted by Elke Schwarz
The AI industry wants us to believe AI superintelligence is the real threat from generative AI.
But that narrative was crafted to distract from the many ways genAI is being used to tear our societies apart, as we saw this week when a deepfake video rocked the Irish election. It must be reined in.
But that narrative was crafted to distract from the many ways genAI is being used to tear our societies apart, as we saw this week when a deepfake video rocked the Irish election. It must be reined in.
Generative AI is a societal disaster
Governments are deluding themselves into believing investment justifies allowing AI to upend society
disconnect.blog
October 24, 2025 at 10:12 AM
The AI industry wants us to believe AI superintelligence is the real threat from generative AI.
But that narrative was crafted to distract from the many ways genAI is being used to tear our societies apart, as we saw this week when a deepfake video rocked the Irish election. It must be reined in.
But that narrative was crafted to distract from the many ways genAI is being used to tear our societies apart, as we saw this week when a deepfake video rocked the Irish election. It must be reined in.
Fascinating how Lammy frames his AI advocacy in almost spiritual terms "I believe, with absolute conviction that AI has brought humanity to a new technological frontier ... we stand on the edge of something vast ...". Why not note the known (limited) benefits without getting all religious about it?
Deputy Prime Minister speech at the OpenAI Frontiers Conference
The Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy MP spoke at the OpenAI Frontiers Conference about partnering with OpenAI and cutting admin time for frontline staff.
www.gov.uk
October 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Fascinating how Lammy frames his AI advocacy in almost spiritual terms "I believe, with absolute conviction that AI has brought humanity to a new technological frontier ... we stand on the edge of something vast ...". Why not note the known (limited) benefits without getting all religious about it?
Reposted by Elke Schwarz
"Almost half of everything AI assistants tell you is wrong" and "Oxford university gives AI assistants to all its students" are two headlines we are forced to accept as coexisting in this appalling timeline.
The response of UK universities to this is, almost universally, to say "Tch, what can you do?"
Or in some cases, to very overtly decide that the thing to do is join in...
Or in some cases, to very overtly decide that the thing to do is join in...
October 23, 2025 at 8:24 AM
"Almost half of everything AI assistants tell you is wrong" and "Oxford university gives AI assistants to all its students" are two headlines we are forced to accept as coexisting in this appalling timeline.