Michael Morrison
@rhetoricalreader.bsky.social
Reader, gamer, strongly anti-AI
Reposted by Michael Morrison
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-h...
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers - JSTOR Daily
Nineteenth-century women turned music lessons into interactive entertainment, complete with spinning wheels and ivory counters.
daily.jstor.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-h...
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Local journalism was already nearly dead
Apparently the owners want to dig the grave themselves
www.telegram.com/story/news/n...
Apparently the owners want to dig the grave themselves
www.telegram.com/story/news/n...
We partnered with AI-powered answer engine Perplexity. Here's why it matters.
The USA TODAY Network is teaming up with Perplexity to bring trusted local reporting into the AI era.
www.telegram.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Local journalism was already nearly dead
Apparently the owners want to dig the grave themselves
www.telegram.com/story/news/n...
Apparently the owners want to dig the grave themselves
www.telegram.com/story/news/n...
Reposted by Michael Morrison
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
OpenAI says they aren't liable for the suicide of a user their chat bot urged to kill himself because suicide is a violation of the TOS
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 AM
OpenAI says they aren't liable for the suicide of a user their chat bot urged to kill himself because suicide is a violation of the TOS
Reposted by Michael Morrison
IGN is paying attention to censorship again. Use their momentum, call visa and mastercard, tell them you read the article, ask them why they're censoring legal stuff
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
Really wild situation here: a celebrated and well-regarded indie dev and publisher is facing shutdown because Valve banned their game from Steam and won't talk to them about it, at all.
www.ign.com/articles/uns...
www.ign.com/articles/uns...
Unsettling Horror Game Horses Banned From Steam, Leaving Studio With 'High Risk' of Closure - IGN
Indie horror game Horses is preparing to launch on December 2, on the Epic Games Store, GOG, Itch.io, and the Humble Store. But one place it won't be is on Steam, because Steam has banned the game for...
www.ign.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
IGN is paying attention to censorship again. Use their momentum, call visa and mastercard, tell them you read the article, ask them why they're censoring legal stuff
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
Reposted by Michael Morrison
This is narcissism masquerading as philosophy — the technophile elite are not recognizing a new soul in AI, they're falling in love with their creation, staring at their own reflection in a digital pool.
It is the ultimate in solipsism and has its roots in a pathological fear and denial of death.
It is the ultimate in solipsism and has its roots in a pathological fear and denial of death.
November 26, 2025 at 3:47 AM
This is narcissism masquerading as philosophy — the technophile elite are not recognizing a new soul in AI, they're falling in love with their creation, staring at their own reflection in a digital pool.
It is the ultimate in solipsism and has its roots in a pathological fear and denial of death.
It is the ultimate in solipsism and has its roots in a pathological fear and denial of death.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Butlerian Jihad now.
Sure sure you might say that my client's knife "caused" the victim to stop being able to pump blood to their brain, but Hume's 𝘌𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 really makes it clear that we should all have some reasonable doubt about the concept of "causation"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
November 26, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Butlerian Jihad now.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Grateful to The Verge for publishing my essay on why large-language models are not going to achieve general intelligence nor push the scientific frontier.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Is language the same as intelligence? The AI industry desperately needs it to be
The AI boom is based on a fundamental mistake.
www.theverge.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Grateful to The Verge for publishing my essay on why large-language models are not going to achieve general intelligence nor push the scientific frontier.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Canada also needs to wake up:
'“Our mid-term goal should be the complete phase-out of Microsoft products, including the Windows operating system. It’s easier than it sounds,” the lawmakers say, praising the International Criminal Court’s recent move to drop Microsoft over U.S. sanction fears.'
'“Our mid-term goal should be the complete phase-out of Microsoft products, including the Windows operating system. It’s easier than it sounds,” the lawmakers say, praising the International Criminal Court’s recent move to drop Microsoft over U.S. sanction fears.'
“Our mid-term goal should be the complete phase-out of Microsoft products, including the Windows operating system. It’s easier than it sounds.”
A cross-party group of lawmakers are pushing for the European Parliament to get off US tech, starting with Microsoft.
A cross-party group of lawmakers are pushing for the European Parliament to get off US tech, starting with Microsoft.
Get us off Microsoft! Lawmakers press EU Parliament to change in-house IT.
“We cannot afford this level of dependence on foreign tech,” lawmakers say in letter obtained by POLITICO.
www.politico.eu
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Canada also needs to wake up:
'“Our mid-term goal should be the complete phase-out of Microsoft products, including the Windows operating system. It’s easier than it sounds,” the lawmakers say, praising the International Criminal Court’s recent move to drop Microsoft over U.S. sanction fears.'
'“Our mid-term goal should be the complete phase-out of Microsoft products, including the Windows operating system. It’s easier than it sounds,” the lawmakers say, praising the International Criminal Court’s recent move to drop Microsoft over U.S. sanction fears.'
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Everyone knows data centers use a ton of water.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
AI’s water problem is worse than we thought
A new investigation reveals how Amazon is amplifying Oregon’s nitrate pollution crisis.
heated.world
November 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Everyone knows data centers use a ton of water.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
If you're new to cooking or don't trust yourself to recognize a bad AI recipe, for the love on god, do not just use random recipes from random profiles. Find trustworthy sites and creators (Serious Eats, NYT Cooking, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, Alton Brown) and search their archives for what you need.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
If you're new to cooking or don't trust yourself to recognize a bad AI recipe, for the love on god, do not just use random recipes from random profiles. Find trustworthy sites and creators (Serious Eats, NYT Cooking, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, Alton Brown) and search their archives for what you need.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Large language mistake
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Large language mistake
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
Cutting-edge research shows language is not the same as intelligence. The entire AI bubble is built on ignoring it.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia... great read from @benjaminjriley.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Morrison
"Tech CEOs are riding the AI hype by pocketing billions through circular deals — and the European Commission is fueling the hype. When the bubble bursts, CEOs may lose investors, but the commission will have wasted public funds and shattered public trust."
euobserver.com/digital/ar68...
euobserver.com/digital/ar68...
Von der Leyen caught in AI hype trap while Tech bros cash in
Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commission are fueling the AI hype, claiming AI could reach human-level reasoning next year. When asked for evidence, they cited tech CEOs’ essays, prompting scientists...
euobserver.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
"Tech CEOs are riding the AI hype by pocketing billions through circular deals — and the European Commission is fueling the hype. When the bubble bursts, CEOs may lose investors, but the commission will have wasted public funds and shattered public trust."
euobserver.com/digital/ar68...
euobserver.com/digital/ar68...
Reposted by Michael Morrison
the corporate press softsells it, and "AI" gets all the attention, but this administration really is trying to impose a ban on all federal and state oversight of corporate power
Trump revives unpopular Ted Cruz plan to punish states that impose AI laws
Cruz plan to block broadband funding lost 99-1, but now it’s back—in Trump form.
arstechnica.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
the corporate press softsells it, and "AI" gets all the attention, but this administration really is trying to impose a ban on all federal and state oversight of corporate power
Reposted by Michael Morrison
YEP
I specifically bought an older refurbished iPhone to avoid "A.i." crap.
I specifically bought an older refurbished iPhone to avoid "A.i." crap.
When each device costs as much as a month's worth of rent, and the "improvements" are increasingly AI features that I do not want, why would I upgrade?
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
YEP
I specifically bought an older refurbished iPhone to avoid "A.i." crap.
I specifically bought an older refurbished iPhone to avoid "A.i." crap.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
can anyone who understands finance lingo tell me if this is a good or bad sign??
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates
A burning platform
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
can anyone who understands finance lingo tell me if this is a good or bad sign??
Reposted by Michael Morrison
To be clear, though: this goes beyond AI.
Data centers are a problem for much more than just the tech currently fueling the boom cycle.
Data centers are a problem for much more than just the tech currently fueling the boom cycle.
November 25, 2025 at 8:10 PM
To be clear, though: this goes beyond AI.
Data centers are a problem for much more than just the tech currently fueling the boom cycle.
Data centers are a problem for much more than just the tech currently fueling the boom cycle.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
My speaker notes & slides from today's panel on 'Resisting GenAI & Big Tech in Higher Education', co-organised with the Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU). The full recording, slides and resources will be available soon via the CJUU site.
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
November 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
My speaker notes & slides from today's panel on 'Resisting GenAI & Big Tech in Higher Education', co-organised with the Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU). The full recording, slides and resources will be available soon via the CJUU site.
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
danmcquillan.org/resisting_ge...
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Christmas is coming, and the Black Friday sales signal we’re in peak gift-buying season.
When you’re picking out gifts for friends and family this year, there’s a whole slew of tech products that are better to avoid. I put together a guide to help you through it.
When you’re picking out gifts for friends and family this year, there’s a whole slew of tech products that are better to avoid. I put together a guide to help you through it.
A tech critic’s guide to holiday gift-giving
Maybe your grandma doesn’t need that Alexa smart speaker
disconnect.blog
November 25, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Christmas is coming, and the Black Friday sales signal we’re in peak gift-buying season.
When you’re picking out gifts for friends and family this year, there’s a whole slew of tech products that are better to avoid. I put together a guide to help you through it.
When you’re picking out gifts for friends and family this year, there’s a whole slew of tech products that are better to avoid. I put together a guide to help you through it.
Reposted by Michael Morrison
The BBC removed a line about Trump being the most openly corrupt president in American history...from a lecture about the cowardice of today's elites.
I wonder if the BBC has heard of the Streisand Effect
I wonder if the BBC has heard of the Streisand Effect
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The BBC removed a line about Trump being the most openly corrupt president in American history...from a lecture about the cowardice of today's elites.
I wonder if the BBC has heard of the Streisand Effect
I wonder if the BBC has heard of the Streisand Effect
Reposted by Michael Morrison
This is what pisses me off about the current higher ed crisis. The humanities always take the fall for structural failures of admin or low enrollment.
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
Where I work, grad student enrollment in Engineering and Business is down 70% and 40%, respectively.
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Enrollment by international students from China dropped by 3 percent, from India by 4 percent, and enrollment from students from Mexico has flatlined. Here are the likely consequences for Texas' education and economy:
November 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This is what pisses me off about the current higher ed crisis. The humanities always take the fall for structural failures of admin or low enrollment.
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
Reposted by Michael Morrison
I keep saying, Google intentionally making its search worse is a world-historical fumble, and it's a huge opportunity for so many others across the internet, if they'll just seize it..
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I keep saying, Google intentionally making its search worse is a world-historical fumble, and it's a huge opportunity for so many others across the internet, if they'll just seize it..
Reposted by Michael Morrison
Reposted by Michael Morrison
First person up for public shaming will be whoever thought whitewashing this pestilent, roided, wellness fascist was a good idea.
Over many interviews, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Michael Scherer about how he plans to remake America’s public-health system. Can he lead the scientific establishment he’s spent much of his life crusading against?
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
November 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
First person up for public shaming will be whoever thought whitewashing this pestilent, roided, wellness fascist was a good idea.