Rakibul Hasan
@rakib062.bsky.social
Privacy, safety, and human rights. Assistant professor of Computer Science at ASU. https://persue-lab-asu.github.io/
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
As with AI art, these bros fail to understand that creative writing isn’t a slop bucket that needs refilling by any means possible. The reason creative writing is beloved is because it gives us insight into the thoughts and imaginations of fellow humans, not homogenized and plagiarized slurry
"It's got everything -- it's cheaper than humans, the noun-verb agreement is mostly right, it never comes up with an unexpected idea, and it's cheaper than humans!" www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
ChatGPT firm reveals AI model that is ‘good at creative writing’
As tech firms battle creative industries over copyright, OpenAI chief Sam Altman says he was ‘really struck’ by product’s output
www.theguardian.com
March 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM
As with AI art, these bros fail to understand that creative writing isn’t a slop bucket that needs refilling by any means possible. The reason creative writing is beloved is because it gives us insight into the thoughts and imaginations of fellow humans, not homogenized and plagiarized slurry
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
“AI is constantly incorrect, environmentally damaging and such a stupid way of learning. I started studying so I could be taught by professionals, not a robot telling me slop gathered from hundreds of places on the internet,” the student said.
March 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
“AI is constantly incorrect, environmentally damaging and such a stupid way of learning. I started studying so I could be taught by professionals, not a robot telling me slop gathered from hundreds of places on the internet,” the student said.
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
a lot of eugenicists in the early days, and then during the cold war when uni's got huge influxes of cash it was all from the DoD and related MIL, so the computing researchers who thrived were the ones who could stomach taking blood money. it arguably shaped that+later generations of researchers
February 25, 2025 at 12:51 AM
a lot of eugenicists in the early days, and then during the cold war when uni's got huge influxes of cash it was all from the DoD and related MIL, so the computing researchers who thrived were the ones who could stomach taking blood money. it arguably shaped that+later generations of researchers
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
after 4 years the "critical" tech community will be comprised of objectively uncritical computer scientists who "defiantly" use words like "ethical", "participatory", or "human-centered" in proposals to train hegemonic algorithmic systems, because that's the form & extent of their hashtag-resistance
February 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
after 4 years the "critical" tech community will be comprised of objectively uncritical computer scientists who "defiantly" use words like "ethical", "participatory", or "human-centered" in proposals to train hegemonic algorithmic systems, because that's the form & extent of their hashtag-resistance
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
the tech stack musk is using is incidental. computer scientists who happen to be interested in LLMs will make careers out of the next 4 years chasing the idiosyncrasies of the implementations of these systems, condescendingly dismissing the study of the political movement animating all of this shit
February 25, 2025 at 12:22 AM
the tech stack musk is using is incidental. computer scientists who happen to be interested in LLMs will make careers out of the next 4 years chasing the idiosyncrasies of the implementations of these systems, condescendingly dismissing the study of the political movement animating all of this shit
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
Newsletter: There is no AI Revolution. Consumer adoption of generative AI outside of ChatGPT is barely 100 million people, every single company in generative AI is deeply unprofitable, Microsoft is pulling capex, and OpenAI spent $9bn in 2024 to lose $5bn.
www.wheresyoured.at/wheres-the-m...
www.wheresyoured.at/wheres-the-m...
There Is No AI Revolution
Soundtrack: Mack Glocky - Chasing Cars
Last week, I spent a great deal of time and words framing the generative AI industry as a cynical con where OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei hav...
www.wheresyoured.at
February 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Newsletter: There is no AI Revolution. Consumer adoption of generative AI outside of ChatGPT is barely 100 million people, every single company in generative AI is deeply unprofitable, Microsoft is pulling capex, and OpenAI spent $9bn in 2024 to lose $5bn.
www.wheresyoured.at/wheres-the-m...
www.wheresyoured.at/wheres-the-m...
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
The circumstances are “we’re not sure if there is a Federal Trade Commission anymore and we’d like to try something”
February 13, 2025 at 12:19 AM
The circumstances are “we’re not sure if there is a Federal Trade Commission anymore and we’d like to try something”
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
This article - exploring how an economist at UChicago convinced Chicago sheriffs to implement ever more intrusive surveillance despite 80%+ error rates (!) - did not assuage my general feeling that economists are a plague
it took a year and a half but my first reader cover story is finally out!
it's a deep dive into how the cook county sheriff's office worked with the university of chicago to build a web of surveillance for people one electronic monitors.
but there's so much more. strap in. 🧵
it's a deep dive into how the cook county sheriff's office worked with the university of chicago to build a web of surveillance for people one electronic monitors.
but there's so much more. strap in. 🧵
Cook County’s web of surveillance for electronic monitoring
Sheriff Tom Dart worked with the University of Chicago’s Steven Levitt to create a program that could “match” people on EM to reported crimes.
chicagoreader.com
February 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This article - exploring how an economist at UChicago convinced Chicago sheriffs to implement ever more intrusive surveillance despite 80%+ error rates (!) - did not assuage my general feeling that economists are a plague
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
Court orders Musk out of the Treasury computer payment systems until it can sort out whether the DOGE is a legal government entity.
BREAKING: we just blocked Musk & Trump out of the Treasury systems!
Court order just secured — big win by us at @sddaction.bsky.social & our partners including @publiccitizen.bsky.social!
Court order just secured — big win by us at @sddaction.bsky.social & our partners including @publiccitizen.bsky.social!
February 6, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Court orders Musk out of the Treasury computer payment systems until it can sort out whether the DOGE is a legal government entity.
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
In irony too funny for words, Anthropic asks that you please don’t use AI in your job application.
No, really!
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
No, really!
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
Irony too funny for words
Oops
open.substack.com
February 6, 2025 at 1:29 AM
In irony too funny for words, Anthropic asks that you please don’t use AI in your job application.
No, really!
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
No, really!
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
So it’s to be Maoism, then, is it?
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
February 4, 2025 at 2:36 AM
So it’s to be Maoism, then, is it?
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
Can't fix institutional design problems with "literacy" solutions. See this often in AI policy: public tech education, awareness, training programs proposed as solutions to low trust in AI, tech companies, & regulators - without addressing why the public mistrusts those institutions to begin with
December 4, 2024 at 9:59 PM
Can't fix institutional design problems with "literacy" solutions. See this often in AI policy: public tech education, awareness, training programs proposed as solutions to low trust in AI, tech companies, & regulators - without addressing why the public mistrusts those institutions to begin with
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
When the Patriot Act was passed, libraries got requests for patrons’ borrowing history. We were prohibited from disclosing those requests.
We deleted and shredded those records and stopped tracking reading history for that reason.
ALSO.
We deleted and shredded those records and stopped tracking reading history for that reason.
ALSO.
January 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
When the Patriot Act was passed, libraries got requests for patrons’ borrowing history. We were prohibited from disclosing those requests.
We deleted and shredded those records and stopped tracking reading history for that reason.
ALSO.
We deleted and shredded those records and stopped tracking reading history for that reason.
ALSO.
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
Yup. Microsoft automatically switched me to the $99.99/year version with Spicy Autocomplete. You have to go all the way through "cancel subscription" to be presented these options and get the $69.99/year one you actually chose.
January 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Yup. Microsoft automatically switched me to the $99.99/year version with Spicy Autocomplete. You have to go all the way through "cancel subscription" to be presented these options and get the $69.99/year one you actually chose.
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
January 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.
You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.
(1/3)
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
Use Signal to talk about protests
Use Signal to talk about your wordle score
Use Signal to talk about abortion
Use Signal to talk about your mom's knitting club
Use Signal to talk about parties
Use Signal to talk about gender affirming care
Use Signal to talk about the weather
Use Signal
Use Signal to talk about your wordle score
Use Signal to talk about abortion
Use Signal to talk about your mom's knitting club
Use Signal to talk about parties
Use Signal to talk about gender affirming care
Use Signal to talk about the weather
Use Signal
January 21, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Use Signal to talk about protests
Use Signal to talk about your wordle score
Use Signal to talk about abortion
Use Signal to talk about your mom's knitting club
Use Signal to talk about parties
Use Signal to talk about gender affirming care
Use Signal to talk about the weather
Use Signal
Use Signal to talk about your wordle score
Use Signal to talk about abortion
Use Signal to talk about your mom's knitting club
Use Signal to talk about parties
Use Signal to talk about gender affirming care
Use Signal to talk about the weather
Use Signal
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
Discworld QOTD, from Snuff
“I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.”
“I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.”
Discworld QOTD, from Soul Music
“It was sad music. But it waved its sadness like a battle flag. It said the universe had done all it could, but you were still alive.”
“It was sad music. But it waved its sadness like a battle flag. It said the universe had done all it could, but you were still alive.”
Discworld QOTD, from Wintersmith
“'And he won her freedom by playing beautiful music,' Roland added. 'I think he played a lute. Or maybe it was a lyre.'
'Ach, weel, that'll suit us fine,' said Daft Wullie. 'We're experts at lootin' an' then lyin' aboot it.'”
“'And he won her freedom by playing beautiful music,' Roland added. 'I think he played a lute. Or maybe it was a lyre.'
'Ach, weel, that'll suit us fine,' said Daft Wullie. 'We're experts at lootin' an' then lyin' aboot it.'”
January 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Snuff
“I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.”
“I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there is some god involved.”
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
... the only solution right now would be to spend another full day on chat/phone support. Otherwise, just wait. They rolled this out without permission, and they HAVE AN INTERFACE FOR USERS TO DISABLE IT, they just aren't letting most users access it without jumping through endless hoops.
January 17, 2025 at 8:49 PM
... the only solution right now would be to spend another full day on chat/phone support. Otherwise, just wait. They rolled this out without permission, and they HAVE AN INTERFACE FOR USERS TO DISABLE IT, they just aren't letting most users access it without jumping through endless hoops.
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
"You also have confirmed that unless users go through a similar set of support, that took me six hours today, there will never be any way to turn this off."
Google: "Yes."
He later followed up/said instead that there eventually will be a way (no timeline).
Google: "Yes."
He later followed up/said instead that there eventually will be a way (no timeline).
January 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM
"You also have confirmed that unless users go through a similar set of support, that took me six hours today, there will never be any way to turn this off."
Google: "Yes."
He later followed up/said instead that there eventually will be a way (no timeline).
Google: "Yes."
He later followed up/said instead that there eventually will be a way (no timeline).
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
I want to share my experience today with Google support, trying to get Gemini (their AI/plagiarism machine) turned off in my Google workspace account. That account is where I personally do all my work communication—I am an editor, and most of my work contracts explicitly ban any use of Generative AI
January 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I want to share my experience today with Google support, trying to get Gemini (their AI/plagiarism machine) turned off in my Google workspace account. That account is where I personally do all my work communication—I am an editor, and most of my work contracts explicitly ban any use of Generative AI
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
I've spent the past year obsessed with how police are using facial recognition. What I found: Police in 12 states have used these tools to find and arrest suspects when they have no other evidence, leading to wrongful arrests
wapo.st/4fQYlXn
🧵 what I learned from 1,000 docs & dozens of sources ->
wapo.st/4fQYlXn
🧵 what I learned from 1,000 docs & dozens of sources ->
Arrested by AI: Police ignore standards after facial recognition matches
Confident in unproven facial recognition technology, sometimes investigators skip steps; at least eight Americans have been wrongfully arrested.
wapo.st
January 14, 2025 at 2:27 AM
I've spent the past year obsessed with how police are using facial recognition. What I found: Police in 12 states have used these tools to find and arrest suspects when they have no other evidence, leading to wrongful arrests
wapo.st/4fQYlXn
🧵 what I learned from 1,000 docs & dozens of sources ->
wapo.st/4fQYlXn
🧵 what I learned from 1,000 docs & dozens of sources ->
Reposted by Rakibul Hasan
Before people start whining about why they specifically need a cup of coffee to be delivered to them by a person scraping pennies to survive, let me remind you that the streets are public and cities have to deal with lots of expensive problems caused by your selfishness and laziness.
January 5, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Before people start whining about why they specifically need a cup of coffee to be delivered to them by a person scraping pennies to survive, let me remind you that the streets are public and cities have to deal with lots of expensive problems caused by your selfishness and laziness.