Nick Laiacona
@nicklaiacona.bsky.social
Developer of open source software for the humanities. Maker of FairCopy, EditionCrafter, and Juxta. Partner at Performant Software Solutions LLC.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Check out this amazing project so many of us at Performant Software have been working on for the past couple of years. We can't wait for the launch and for everyone to see it!
The world premiere of Native Bound Unbound: Archive of Indigenous Slavery will be streamed live on YouTube this weekend.
Watch live:
Day 1 (NHCC - Albuquerque) www.youtube.com/live/xiA5Mp_...
Day 2 (MIAC - Santa Fe)
www.youtube.com/live/5r-vWjG...
Follow @natboundunbound for updates and links.
Watch live:
Day 1 (NHCC - Albuquerque) www.youtube.com/live/xiA5Mp_...
Day 2 (MIAC - Santa Fe)
www.youtube.com/live/5r-vWjG...
Follow @natboundunbound for updates and links.
October 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Check out this amazing project so many of us at Performant Software have been working on for the past couple of years. We can't wait for the launch and for everyone to see it!
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
This, from @nicholasbs.bsky.social , is a really thoughtful survey of attitudes on AI in the field right now. As they say, read the whole thing, but a finding that resonates: “You should use AI-powered tools to complement or increase your agency, not replace it.“
www.recurse.com/blog/191-dev...
www.recurse.com/blog/191-dev...
Developing our position on AI - Blog - Recurse Center
This post is about how we've tried to develop a position on AI in the context of learning and growth at RC.
www.recurse.com
July 27, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This, from @nicholasbs.bsky.social , is a really thoughtful survey of attitudes on AI in the field right now. As they say, read the whole thing, but a finding that resonates: “You should use AI-powered tools to complement or increase your agency, not replace it.“
www.recurse.com/blog/191-dev...
www.recurse.com/blog/191-dev...
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Indiana Jones and the This Is More of a Comment than a Question
July 3, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Indiana Jones and the This Is More of a Comment than a Question
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
amtrak’s marketing team gets it
June 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
amtrak’s marketing team gets it
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
I expect that consumer-facing AI programs will continue to improve and they may become much more useful tools for everyday life in the future.
But I think it was a disastrous mistake that today’s models were taught to be convincing before they were taught to be right.
But I think it was a disastrous mistake that today’s models were taught to be convincing before they were taught to be right.
June 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I expect that consumer-facing AI programs will continue to improve and they may become much more useful tools for everyday life in the future.
But I think it was a disastrous mistake that today’s models were taught to be convincing before they were taught to be right.
But I think it was a disastrous mistake that today’s models were taught to be convincing before they were taught to be right.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Today they have crossed a deep red line.
We, the people, must hold the president and his appointees accountable for this outrageous abuse against American liberty.
We, the people, must hold the president and his appointees accountable for this outrageous abuse against American liberty.
June 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Today they have crossed a deep red line.
We, the people, must hold the president and his appointees accountable for this outrageous abuse against American liberty.
We, the people, must hold the president and his appointees accountable for this outrageous abuse against American liberty.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
This afternoon / evening, @kelleykreitz.bsky.social & I are presenting as part of the #ACH2025 panel 13A: Papers: Advocacy and/in the Classroom (5:30-6:45 pm EDT). We'll talk about critical mapping in the classroom. Come chat with us about data, narratives, and counter-mapping.
June 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
This afternoon / evening, @kelleykreitz.bsky.social & I are presenting as part of the #ACH2025 panel 13A: Papers: Advocacy and/in the Classroom (5:30-6:45 pm EDT). We'll talk about critical mapping in the classroom. Come chat with us about data, narratives, and counter-mapping.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
On the "three mantras of Long DH" (Futurebuilding DH) from Johannes Burgers:
1) "go slow and build things",
2) "teamwork makes the dreamwork, but nagging helps" (people-first proj management),
3) "love your data like you love yourself" (tech changes, data doesn't; set your data free!). #ACH2025
1) "go slow and build things",
2) "teamwork makes the dreamwork, but nagging helps" (people-first proj management),
3) "love your data like you love yourself" (tech changes, data doesn't; set your data free!). #ACH2025
June 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
On the "three mantras of Long DH" (Futurebuilding DH) from Johannes Burgers:
1) "go slow and build things",
2) "teamwork makes the dreamwork, but nagging helps" (people-first proj management),
3) "love your data like you love yourself" (tech changes, data doesn't; set your data free!). #ACH2025
1) "go slow and build things",
2) "teamwork makes the dreamwork, but nagging helps" (people-first proj management),
3) "love your data like you love yourself" (tech changes, data doesn't; set your data free!). #ACH2025
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
The @zooniverse.bsky.social crew are putting together a fascinating feedback form to create a set of recommendations for running ML/AI-engaged projects. Participate here and help shape next steps for ethics around community and citizen engagement at scale blog.zooniverse.org/2025/06/10/e...
Ethical Considerations for Machine Learning in Public-Engaged Research
With support from the Kavli Foundation, the Zooniverse team is launching a project to help us develop a set of recommendations for running AI-engaged projects on the Zooniverse platform.
blog.zooniverse.org
June 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The @zooniverse.bsky.social crew are putting together a fascinating feedback form to create a set of recommendations for running ML/AI-engaged projects. Participate here and help shape next steps for ethics around community and citizen engagement at scale blog.zooniverse.org/2025/06/10/e...
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Tuesday that she signed an executive order seeking greater transparency from federal immigration officials. She said the city will submit regular Freedom of Information Act requests to find out who ICE is detaining and on what grounds.
June 11, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Tuesday that she signed an executive order seeking greater transparency from federal immigration officials. She said the city will submit regular Freedom of Information Act requests to find out who ICE is detaining and on what grounds.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
I believe that today, June 10, is the day that the RIF'd NEH @nehgov.bsky.social employees officially separate from the government. What a complete (and completely unnecessary) loss for us all. And what a betrayal of their service to us. Sending gratitude to all public servants this morning.
June 10, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I believe that today, June 10, is the day that the RIF'd NEH @nehgov.bsky.social employees officially separate from the government. What a complete (and completely unnecessary) loss for us all. And what a betrayal of their service to us. Sending gratitude to all public servants this morning.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
"You said autistic children are a burden. That they ruin families. That they’ll never pay taxes or write poems. That they are, in essence, collateral damage. I’d like to introduce you to my daughter."
An Open Letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Who Thinks My Daughter is a Tragedy
Dear Mr. RFK Jr., (The “dear” is tradition. Don’t mistake it for affection.) You said autistic children are a burden. That they ruin families. That...
buff.ly
May 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
"You said autistic children are a burden. That they ruin families. That they’ll never pay taxes or write poems. That they are, in essence, collateral damage. I’d like to introduce you to my daughter."
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Experts in their fields, the very best at what they do, dedicated and talented people, treated like garbage.
Money that could have gone to staff salaries as well. Career positions with protections, experts in their fields, just thrown out the window, no concern for the majority of staff at all.
April 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Experts in their fields, the very best at what they do, dedicated and talented people, treated like garbage.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Kind, decent, and compassionate, Pope Francis was badly out of step with contemporary western culture.
April 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Kind, decent, and compassionate, Pope Francis was badly out of step with contemporary western culture.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Similes like this are so helpful; it seems really obvious when you say it out loud but there is a genuine perspective shift when you're emphatic that the point of your teaching is not to create 15 essays, but 15 students who can write an essay.
Even accepting the premise that AI produces useful writing (which no one should), using AI in education is like using a forklift at the gym. The weights do not actually need to be moved from place to place. That is not the work. The work is what happens within you.
April 15, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Similes like this are so helpful; it seems really obvious when you say it out loud but there is a genuine perspective shift when you're emphatic that the point of your teaching is not to create 15 essays, but 15 students who can write an essay.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
@kelleykreitz.bsky.social and @anindita.org on “The Ground Beneath our Feet: Critical Mapping in the Classroom” #bostondh25
April 11, 2025 at 6:38 PM
@kelleykreitz.bsky.social and @anindita.org on “The Ground Beneath our Feet: Critical Mapping in the Classroom” #bostondh25
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Learn How to Build a Digital Edition
In our new video, Nick walks you through the process of creating a functioning digital edition.
Solutions–DIY DH projects you can bring to life using Performant's open-source tools. #digitalhumanities
www.performantsoftware.com/solutions/ed...
In our new video, Nick walks you through the process of creating a functioning digital edition.
Solutions–DIY DH projects you can bring to life using Performant's open-source tools. #digitalhumanities
www.performantsoftware.com/solutions/ed...
How to Publish a Digital Edition
We partner with scholars in the humanities to build software for research and education.
www.performantsoftware.com
April 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Learn How to Build a Digital Edition
In our new video, Nick walks you through the process of creating a functioning digital edition.
Solutions–DIY DH projects you can bring to life using Performant's open-source tools. #digitalhumanities
www.performantsoftware.com/solutions/ed...
In our new video, Nick walks you through the process of creating a functioning digital edition.
Solutions–DIY DH projects you can bring to life using Performant's open-source tools. #digitalhumanities
www.performantsoftware.com/solutions/ed...
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Tonight an unbelievable **34,000 people** gathered for our Denver rally to take on billionaires and win our country back.
This was the largest political gathering in Denver since Obama in 2008.
Also bigger than the 2024 DNC.
And the largest ever rally in Bernie’s career (and obviously, mine too).
This was the largest political gathering in Denver since Obama in 2008.
Also bigger than the 2024 DNC.
And the largest ever rally in Bernie’s career (and obviously, mine too).
March 22, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Tonight an unbelievable **34,000 people** gathered for our Denver rally to take on billionaires and win our country back.
This was the largest political gathering in Denver since Obama in 2008.
Also bigger than the 2024 DNC.
And the largest ever rally in Bernie’s career (and obviously, mine too).
This was the largest political gathering in Denver since Obama in 2008.
Also bigger than the 2024 DNC.
And the largest ever rally in Bernie’s career (and obviously, mine too).
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
The whole narrative of AI increasingly appears to me to resemble a very well known folktale.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emp...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emp...
en.m.wikipedia.org
January 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The whole narrative of AI increasingly appears to me to resemble a very well known folktale.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emp...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emp...
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Cannot stop thinking about how Octavia Butler wrote a book in 1993 about climate change. It opens with deadly fires in LA in 2025. In the story, a fascist President has just won office with the campaign slogan "Make America Great Again."
She was a modern day Nostradamus. If only we'd listened.
She was a modern day Nostradamus. If only we'd listened.
January 9, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Cannot stop thinking about how Octavia Butler wrote a book in 1993 about climate change. It opens with deadly fires in LA in 2025. In the story, a fascist President has just won office with the campaign slogan "Make America Great Again."
She was a modern day Nostradamus. If only we'd listened.
She was a modern day Nostradamus. If only we'd listened.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
In the new year I’m going to publish a history of the last 5 years of building @transkribus.bsky.social as an AI cooperative: shared ownership, shared resources, all profit reinvested into infrastructure. It turns out we can build a better tech world together, but that takes work & community.
Newsletter: Our digital lives are unregulated growth-hacked ecological disasters. The modern tech ecosystem's growth-at-all-costs mindset is actively harming billions of people, pushing them toward authoritarianism for profit. We must fight back.
www.wheresyoured.at/never-forgive-them/
www.wheresyoured.at/never-forgive-them/
Never Forgive Them
In the last year, I’ve spent about 200,000 words on a kind of personal journey where I’ve tried again and again to work out why everything digital feels so broken, and why it seems to keep getting wor...
www.wheresyoured.at
December 18, 2024 at 7:43 PM
In the new year I’m going to publish a history of the last 5 years of building @transkribus.bsky.social as an AI cooperative: shared ownership, shared resources, all profit reinvested into infrastructure. It turns out we can build a better tech world together, but that takes work & community.
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
. @jenguiliano.bsky.social & I are pleased to wrap up our FIFTH year publishing #ReviewsInDH with a special issue, “Games and DH,” edited by James O’Sullivan @jamesosullivan.bsky.social and Astrid Ensslin. It’s a great look at intersections of DH and Game Studies! reviewsindh.pubpub.org/v5-n12
Vol. 5, No. 12: December 2024 - Games & DH · Reviews in Digital Humanities
Vol. 5, No. 12 of Reviews in Digital Humanities, a peer-reviewed journal that facilitates scholarly evaluation of digital humanities work and its outputs, edited by Jennifer Guiliano (Indiana Universi...
reviewsindh.pubpub.org
December 30, 2024 at 2:16 PM
. @jenguiliano.bsky.social & I are pleased to wrap up our FIFTH year publishing #ReviewsInDH with a special issue, “Games and DH,” edited by James O’Sullivan @jamesosullivan.bsky.social and Astrid Ensslin. It’s a great look at intersections of DH and Game Studies! reviewsindh.pubpub.org/v5-n12
Reposted by Nick Laiacona
Have you ever wondered where an author lifted a passage from when they didn't cite a source? @lucianli123.bsky.social was able to use LLM embeddings to trace sources Charles Darwin used in Origin of Species, as well as later authors quoting (or paraphrasing) Darwin!
See his work at today's webinar:
See his work at today's webinar:
Tracing the Genealogies of Ideas with LLM Embeddings (December 12, 2024) - FromThePage Blog
content.fromthepage.com
December 12, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Have you ever wondered where an author lifted a passage from when they didn't cite a source? @lucianli123.bsky.social was able to use LLM embeddings to trace sources Charles Darwin used in Origin of Species, as well as later authors quoting (or paraphrasing) Darwin!
See his work at today's webinar:
See his work at today's webinar: