Jochen F. Mayer
@jochenfm.bsky.social
Research Bid Dev Exec @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social's Research Office | Historian 20c. #histSTM @💚 | All things pre-electric data processing #histpaperwork, esp Nazi Germany | #histstats ~1900 | Views≠Employer's
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Librarians kick ass! I asked for European hairstyles from before the 17th century and they gave me a pile of ancient tomes from various countries
But you need to ask for something real. LLM chatbots hallucinate fake references—you’re sending librarians on unachievable quests after imaginary books
But you need to ask for something real. LLM chatbots hallucinate fake references—you’re sending librarians on unachievable quests after imaginary books
As an author, I’ve already gotten multiple emails from people asking me for fake articles and books that I’ve supposedly written, because chatbots have told them fake references. I *cannot imagine* the frustration and time waste for librarians and especially ILL library professionals right now.
December 13, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Librarians kick ass! I asked for European hairstyles from before the 17th century and they gave me a pile of ancient tomes from various countries
But you need to ask for something real. LLM chatbots hallucinate fake references—you’re sending librarians on unachievable quests after imaginary books
But you need to ask for something real. LLM chatbots hallucinate fake references—you’re sending librarians on unachievable quests after imaginary books
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Baudrillard described this phenomenon when he said that the ’68 protests were defeated the moment student protesters heard the sound of their own voices on the radio.
i think a (perhaps underappreciated) aspect of this whole situation is the extent to which every elite profession is filled with people who excel at drawing attention and want to be famous more than they want to do the actual job
December 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Baudrillard described this phenomenon when he said that the ’68 protests were defeated the moment student protesters heard the sound of their own voices on the radio.
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
And if you want to know why I think this is a bust, it’s because I’ve spent most of this year dealing with the Indian archives’ absolutely catastrophic AI transcriptions which are also used to catalogue huge troves of sources, leaving them UNUSABLE
Gemini’s ability to read handwritten archival documents has importance beyond the humanities. It opens new frontiers for scientific research and collaboration with the humanities.
foundhistory.org/seeing-old-s...
#ClimateScience #DataScience #Agriculture #Archives #Research #LandGrant #AI
foundhistory.org/seeing-old-s...
#ClimateScience #DataScience #Agriculture #Archives #Research #LandGrant #AI
Seeing Old Science
Gemini’s ability to read handwritten archival documents has importance beyond the humanities
foundhistory.org
December 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
And if you want to know why I think this is a bust, it’s because I’ve spent most of this year dealing with the Indian archives’ absolutely catastrophic AI transcriptions which are also used to catalogue huge troves of sources, leaving them UNUSABLE
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
"To attempt to find useful information + instead take part in the solidification of the internet as an ad-delivery business, where you’re given no option but to be the product... You think about how different it all was: when pages loaded quickly, half the internet wasn’t locked behind paywalls..."
Revised Definitions of the Verb “To Google”
1. To look something up quickly and then spend twenty minutes fact-checking the AI summary, only to find out that it was absolutely wrong.
2. To se...
www.mcsweeneys.net
December 10, 2025 at 5:53 PM
"To attempt to find useful information + instead take part in the solidification of the internet as an ad-delivery business, where you’re given no option but to be the product... You think about how different it all was: when pages loaded quickly, half the internet wasn’t locked behind paywalls..."
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern, yes leadership is apparently planning to cut 50% of the faculty at the New School for Social Research in order to eliminate social research and replace scholarship with a trendy MA degree mill For the 21st Century 1/
December 6, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern, yes leadership is apparently planning to cut 50% of the faculty at the New School for Social Research in order to eliminate social research and replace scholarship with a trendy MA degree mill For the 21st Century 1/
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
I wish a notice like this wasn't necessary.
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
Important notice: AI-generated archival references
www.icrc.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Warning: the machine that makes stuff up may have made stuff up
I wish a notice like this wasn't necessary.
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
Important notice: AI-generated archival references
www.icrc.org
December 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Warning: the machine that makes stuff up may have made stuff up
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Our students are raising money to keep their magazines going after the University of Alabama suspended them for foregrounding the voices of women and African Americans.
If you've got the means, please support them.
givebutter.com/F0LNOA
If you've got the means, please support them.
givebutter.com/F0LNOA
Keep the Free Press Alive at the University of Alabama
By Media Alumni Seeking to Highlight Equity and Diversity
givebutter.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Our students are raising money to keep their magazines going after the University of Alabama suspended them for foregrounding the voices of women and African Americans.
If you've got the means, please support them.
givebutter.com/F0LNOA
If you've got the means, please support them.
givebutter.com/F0LNOA
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Haven't received as many contributions as usual for this year's lists--could be many things, but one aspect is surely that our ability to get this in front of people is much diminished. If you know folks whose stuff should be on here, please suggest it! contingentmagazine.org/yearly-pub-l...
Publications by Non-Tenure-Track Historians
Since we began publishing in 2019, Contingent has published end-of-year lists of books and articles by non-tenure-track historians released in the past calendar year. To submit something for inclusion...
contingentmagazine.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Haven't received as many contributions as usual for this year's lists--could be many things, but one aspect is surely that our ability to get this in front of people is much diminished. If you know folks whose stuff should be on here, please suggest it! contingentmagazine.org/yearly-pub-l...
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
More than 2,500 Starbucks workers are on strike. They’re demanding dignity: fair pay, safe conditions, a contract that respects their labor.
It’s time their voices are heard at the same volume as CEOs earning millions.
It’s time their voices are heard at the same volume as CEOs earning millions.
December 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
More than 2,500 Starbucks workers are on strike. They’re demanding dignity: fair pay, safe conditions, a contract that respects their labor.
It’s time their voices are heard at the same volume as CEOs earning millions.
It’s time their voices are heard at the same volume as CEOs earning millions.
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
I have been thinking a lot about hie we are simultaneously told that the guys behind AI tech are the most brilliant ones to walk the earth — and yet they require the creative output of the rest of humanity to make their product go, and they resort to stealing it, to boot.
December 3, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I have been thinking a lot about hie we are simultaneously told that the guys behind AI tech are the most brilliant ones to walk the earth — and yet they require the creative output of the rest of humanity to make their product go, and they resort to stealing it, to boot.
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
“Palantir’s software is helping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement track undocumented immigrants and deport them faster... The software, Immigration OS, plays a key role in supporting the administration’s mass deportation campaign"
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
How Palantir shifted course to play key role in ICE deportations
“The truly progressive position on immigration” is “extreme skepticism,” says Alex Karp, a longtime Democrat and the data management company’s chief executive.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
“Palantir’s software is helping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement track undocumented immigrants and deport them faster... The software, Immigration OS, plays a key role in supporting the administration’s mass deportation campaign"
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
"Imagine you stole all of the intellectual property in the world. And you're using it to help people write middling emails and make revenge porn about women, and also children. And you're powering this plagiarism and non-consensual porn machine by eating up what's left of humanity's carbon budget."
How to explain AI to your family this holiday season | CNN Business
Politics, football and movies are among the many topics that tend to come up around Thanksgiving. In 2025, a new question may arise at the table: Why the heck is everyone talking about AI, and what sh...
www.cnn.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 AM
"Imagine you stole all of the intellectual property in the world. And you're using it to help people write middling emails and make revenge porn about women, and also children. And you're powering this plagiarism and non-consensual porn machine by eating up what's left of humanity's carbon budget."
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
fritz-kola ist auch raus bei dem Verband der "Familienunternehmer" der enger mit den AfD Faschisten kooperieren will, in dem sie sich mit der Partei treffen und verständigen – anstelle einer #Brandmauer gegen Nazis und Rechtsradikalen aufrecht zu erhalten.
www.t-online.de/nachrichten/...
www.t-online.de/nachrichten/...
AfD-Debatte bei Familienunternehmern: Nach Rossmann und Vorwerk geht auch Fritz-Kola
Der Verband der Familienunternehmer kommt nach der Aufhebung der Kontaktsperre zur AfD nicht zur Ruhe. Mit Fritz-Kola zieht die nächste Firma Konsequenzen.
www.t-online.de
November 27, 2025 at 12:58 PM
fritz-kola ist auch raus bei dem Verband der "Familienunternehmer" der enger mit den AfD Faschisten kooperieren will, in dem sie sich mit der Partei treffen und verständigen – anstelle einer #Brandmauer gegen Nazis und Rechtsradikalen aufrecht zu erhalten.
www.t-online.de/nachrichten/...
www.t-online.de/nachrichten/...
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Das Krawallmedium Nius, das rechte Portal "Apollo-News" und Posts von Personen, die Grüne als "Sekte" beschreiben.
Ganz schön heftig, was Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner auf Social Media weiterverbreitet.
Lest unsere Analyse - mit einigen Überraschungen 🔥
⬇️
correctiv.org/aktuelles/po...
Ganz schön heftig, was Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner auf Social Media weiterverbreitet.
Lest unsere Analyse - mit einigen Überraschungen 🔥
⬇️
correctiv.org/aktuelles/po...
Klöckner klickt rechts
Analyse zu Julia Klöckner: Eine datenbasierte Recherche zu ihren Social-Media-Posts, politischen Signalen und ihrer Rolle in CDU.
correctiv.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Das Krawallmedium Nius, das rechte Portal "Apollo-News" und Posts von Personen, die Grüne als "Sekte" beschreiben.
Ganz schön heftig, was Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner auf Social Media weiterverbreitet.
Lest unsere Analyse - mit einigen Überraschungen 🔥
⬇️
correctiv.org/aktuelles/po...
Ganz schön heftig, was Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner auf Social Media weiterverbreitet.
Lest unsere Analyse - mit einigen Überraschungen 🔥
⬇️
correctiv.org/aktuelles/po...
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Early voting in the NYC mayoral election begins TODAY.
If you're a New Yorker, I urge you to vote for Zohran Mamdani — the only candidate who will stand up to the oligarchy and fight for working people.
Listen to his inspiring words from primary night.
If you're a New Yorker, I urge you to vote for Zohran Mamdani — the only candidate who will stand up to the oligarchy and fight for working people.
Listen to his inspiring words from primary night.
October 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Early voting in the NYC mayoral election begins TODAY.
If you're a New Yorker, I urge you to vote for Zohran Mamdani — the only candidate who will stand up to the oligarchy and fight for working people.
Listen to his inspiring words from primary night.
If you're a New Yorker, I urge you to vote for Zohran Mamdani — the only candidate who will stand up to the oligarchy and fight for working people.
Listen to his inspiring words from primary night.
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Bald ist es soweit: Ende November erscheint unser Buch
»Present Past: Wie Nachfahren ihre NS-Familiengeschichte erforschen«
im Metropol-Verlag.
Ich freue mich riesig auf das gedruckte Ergebnis.
Verlagsankündigung:
»Present Past: Wie Nachfahren ihre NS-Familiengeschichte erforschen«
im Metropol-Verlag.
Ich freue mich riesig auf das gedruckte Ergebnis.
Verlagsankündigung:
October 21, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Bald ist es soweit: Ende November erscheint unser Buch
»Present Past: Wie Nachfahren ihre NS-Familiengeschichte erforschen«
im Metropol-Verlag.
Ich freue mich riesig auf das gedruckte Ergebnis.
Verlagsankündigung:
»Present Past: Wie Nachfahren ihre NS-Familiengeschichte erforschen«
im Metropol-Verlag.
Ich freue mich riesig auf das gedruckte Ergebnis.
Verlagsankündigung:
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Public universities that sign onto Trump's "Loyalty Oath" will violate the constitutional rights of their students.🤯
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
October 22, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Public universities that sign onto Trump's "Loyalty Oath" will violate the constitutional rights of their students.🤯
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal breaks down why in this clip from our recent AAUP TV update.
@veenadubal.bsky.social
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Trump's ballroom donors include:
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
October 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Trump's ballroom donors include:
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Rutgers professor Mark Bray fled from the U.S. to Spain with his family after receiving death threats over his scholarship. He is author of the 2017 book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, which explores the history and tactics of anti-fascist movements in Europe, the United States and beyond.
Anti-Fascism Scholar Flees U.S. Fearing for His Family’s Safety Amid Trump’s “Antifa” Fearmongering
We speak with Rutgers University professor Mark Bray, who fled from the U.S. to Spain with his family after receiving death threats over his scholarship. He is the author of the 2017 book Antifa: The ...
www.democracynow.org
October 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Rutgers professor Mark Bray fled from the U.S. to Spain with his family after receiving death threats over his scholarship. He is author of the 2017 book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, which explores the history and tactics of anti-fascist movements in Europe, the United States and beyond.
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Uni administrators and trustees: We need viewpoint diversity.
Professor, outside of class: Working class should organize to overthrow capitalism
Uni administrators and trustees: No, not THAT kind of viewpoint diversity
Professor, outside of class: Working class should organize to overthrow capitalism
Uni administrators and trustees: No, not THAT kind of viewpoint diversity
I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...
Texas State upholds the firing of associate history professor Thomas Alter
Alter’s termination occurred on Sept. 10, stemming from his remarks at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference on Sept. 7.
spectrumlocalnews.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Uni administrators and trustees: We need viewpoint diversity.
Professor, outside of class: Working class should organize to overthrow capitalism
Uni administrators and trustees: No, not THAT kind of viewpoint diversity
Professor, outside of class: Working class should organize to overthrow capitalism
Uni administrators and trustees: No, not THAT kind of viewpoint diversity
Reposted by Jochen F. Mayer
Breaking News: Brown University became the second college to reject a White House deal offering preferential treatment for federal grants.
Brown University Rejects White House Deal for Special Treatment
Brown was the second university to turn down the deal, which would have given a funding preference to universities that agreed to certain requirements.
nyti.ms
October 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Breaking News: Brown University became the second college to reject a White House deal offering preferential treatment for federal grants.