Michael K. Ingram
@michaelkingram.bsky.social
Intel analyst and writer.
Political, economic, and social analysis of these interesting times.
Defend the Republic
www.michaelkingram.com
Political, economic, and social analysis of these interesting times.
Defend the Republic
www.michaelkingram.com
Obviously, this would be contingent on wedging his ass out of the throne he's currently building.
August 27, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Obviously, this would be contingent on wedging his ass out of the throne he's currently building.
Maybe not a likely outcome, but if Trump and/or Musk misused government data *and it can be proven* it would be pretty hilarious to watch one or both have their fortunes vaporized by the largest class action lawsuit in history.
August 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Maybe not a likely outcome, but if Trump and/or Musk misused government data *and it can be proven* it would be pretty hilarious to watch one or both have their fortunes vaporized by the largest class action lawsuit in history.
I'm involved in many discussions with artists, and it's sometimes shocking how easily they turn on those who even obliquely question the dominant narrative.
That's bad. We need our artists asking hard questions and creating new paradigms of thought, even--especially!--if they make us uncomfortable.
That's bad. We need our artists asking hard questions and creating new paradigms of thought, even--especially!--if they make us uncomfortable.
August 27, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I'm involved in many discussions with artists, and it's sometimes shocking how easily they turn on those who even obliquely question the dominant narrative.
That's bad. We need our artists asking hard questions and creating new paradigms of thought, even--especially!--if they make us uncomfortable.
That's bad. We need our artists asking hard questions and creating new paradigms of thought, even--especially!--if they make us uncomfortable.
The ground was so fertile for fascist infection that I don't know how we didn't see it coming.
August 27, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The ground was so fertile for fascist infection that I don't know how we didn't see it coming.
People get paid to write memos like this.
August 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
People get paid to write memos like this.
Gotta buy that Falaise Pocket dip.
August 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Gotta buy that Falaise Pocket dip.
Mine provided a roadmap and KPIs for a thief, but clearly I'm a treasure hunter.
August 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Mine provided a roadmap and KPIs for a thief, but clearly I'm a treasure hunter.
Cliff Claven is not a bad comp: has a wide variety of facts but is lacking on context or insight. You definitely don't want to trust what he says without looking it up to confirm.
August 25, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Cliff Claven is not a bad comp: has a wide variety of facts but is lacking on context or insight. You definitely don't want to trust what he says without looking it up to confirm.
Trump "I'm interested in overthrowing the Republic and installing myself as god-king to enrich myself and help out the hostile foreign power that helped me take the throne."
Headline: Trump Eyes Government, Fiscal. Foreign Policy Reforms
Headline: Trump Eyes Government, Fiscal. Foreign Policy Reforms
August 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Trump "I'm interested in overthrowing the Republic and installing myself as god-king to enrich myself and help out the hostile foreign power that helped me take the throne."
Headline: Trump Eyes Government, Fiscal. Foreign Policy Reforms
Headline: Trump Eyes Government, Fiscal. Foreign Policy Reforms
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
August 21, 2025 at 11:13 PM
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
He bought me a soda
Yeah, I think it's the analyst in me that wants there to be another at least plausible scenario... but I'm at a loss and there's no way it's the former so 🤷♂️
August 21, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Yeah, I think it's the analyst in me that wants there to be another at least plausible scenario... but I'm at a loss and there's no way it's the former so 🤷♂️
I've been really wracking my brain, looking for an explanation for the board's behavior aside from
"They actually believe Tesla will be the most profitable company in history"
Or
"It's a scam and they need Elon to keep the stock price up."
And I can't seem to come up with anything plausible.
"They actually believe Tesla will be the most profitable company in history"
Or
"It's a scam and they need Elon to keep the stock price up."
And I can't seem to come up with anything plausible.
August 21, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I've been really wracking my brain, looking for an explanation for the board's behavior aside from
"They actually believe Tesla will be the most profitable company in history"
Or
"It's a scam and they need Elon to keep the stock price up."
And I can't seem to come up with anything plausible.
"They actually believe Tesla will be the most profitable company in history"
Or
"It's a scam and they need Elon to keep the stock price up."
And I can't seem to come up with anything plausible.
Same thing with all this these raging alphas that feel like they have to irradiate their taints or drink whale penis smoothies to get their testosterone up and be masculine. Like, maybe masculine just isn't for you?
August 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Same thing with all this these raging alphas that feel like they have to irradiate their taints or drink whale penis smoothies to get their testosterone up and be masculine. Like, maybe masculine just isn't for you?
It's kind of a touchy thing because I don't want to imply that there's anything wrong with being gay or that every homophobe is just closeted, but every time I hear rhetoric like "heterosexuality must be cultivated," I scratch my head.
I've found it to be quite easy, even with no formal training.
I've found it to be quite easy, even with no formal training.
August 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It's kind of a touchy thing because I don't want to imply that there's anything wrong with being gay or that every homophobe is just closeted, but every time I hear rhetoric like "heterosexuality must be cultivated," I scratch my head.
I've found it to be quite easy, even with no formal training.
I've found it to be quite easy, even with no formal training.
Instead, because I had a brainfart and couldn't remember the word "API"I had to fight New Google to describe it because it now thinks it knows what I want more than I do.
It's enraging. Google used to be predictable and efficient. Now it's a fight to try to get the results you need.
It's enraging. Google used to be predictable and efficient. Now it's a fight to try to get the results you need.
August 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Instead, because I had a brainfart and couldn't remember the word "API"I had to fight New Google to describe it because it now thinks it knows what I want more than I do.
It's enraging. Google used to be predictable and efficient. Now it's a fight to try to get the results you need.
It's enraging. Google used to be predictable and efficient. Now it's a fight to try to get the results you need.
The products we need are gateways, things like dynamic APIs that can speak both to a user and another machine to get you what you need.
August 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM
The products we need are gateways, things like dynamic APIs that can speak both to a user and another machine to get you what you need.
All because these fools could make the less exciting (but still cool!) truthful claim: that LLMs represent a way to allow regular people to use natural language to interface with computers.
August 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM
All because these fools could make the less exciting (but still cool!) truthful claim: that LLMs represent a way to allow regular people to use natural language to interface with computers.
But we've only just begun to see the backlash against AI in the consumer sphere. Some of that was inevitable with a radical technology, but most of it is just over-promising a product that would, right out of the box, transform your life.
The reality is that in many cases it makes the product work.
The reality is that in many cases it makes the product work.
August 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
But we've only just begun to see the backlash against AI in the consumer sphere. Some of that was inevitable with a radical technology, but most of it is just over-promising a product that would, right out of the box, transform your life.
The reality is that in many cases it makes the product work.
The reality is that in many cases it makes the product work.
Maybe they are hiring the mark on the research side. Dedicated, domain-trained AI research agents have massive potential when used properly, but I can't say I have a good sense on how far they've come thus far.
August 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Maybe they are hiring the mark on the research side. Dedicated, domain-trained AI research agents have massive potential when used properly, but I can't say I have a good sense on how far they've come thus far.
But they are just not delivering... at least on the consumer side. General purpose chatbots can be entertaining and even useful, but I struggle to think of a single time I've had "AI" crammed into an existing product and enjoyed the experience.
August 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
But they are just not delivering... at least on the consumer side. General purpose chatbots can be entertaining and even useful, but I struggle to think of a single time I've had "AI" crammed into an existing product and enjoyed the experience.
Between early returns on AI-ifying everything and the general hype storm that they built up, they've created these massive valuations that have been leveraged into absolutely unheard-of investments in hardware and facilities.
August 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Between early returns on AI-ifying everything and the general hype storm that they built up, they've created these massive valuations that have been leveraged into absolutely unheard-of investments in hardware and facilities.
And people wanted AI. They were excited about it!
But Silicon Valley disrupters got high on their own supply (of ketamine) and convinced entire industries that if they didn't split an AI-enhanced product, all the other toaster manufacturers would leave them in the dust.
But Silicon Valley disrupters got high on their own supply (of ketamine) and convinced entire industries that if they didn't split an AI-enhanced product, all the other toaster manufacturers would leave them in the dust.
August 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
And people wanted AI. They were excited about it!
But Silicon Valley disrupters got high on their own supply (of ketamine) and convinced entire industries that if they didn't split an AI-enhanced product, all the other toaster manufacturers would leave them in the dust.
But Silicon Valley disrupters got high on their own supply (of ketamine) and convinced entire industries that if they didn't split an AI-enhanced product, all the other toaster manufacturers would leave them in the dust.
I am fascinated by the tech and think it could absolutely be a major positive to humanity, but whenever I get a product with an AI gimmick, I'm looking for a way to disable it.
August 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I am fascinated by the tech and think it could absolutely be a major positive to humanity, but whenever I get a product with an AI gimmick, I'm looking for a way to disable it.