Stephanie
@stephaniekirmer.com
Sociology, urbanism, Chicago, machine learning and AI
Pinned
Stephanie
@stephaniekirmer.com
· Aug 1
Driving is dirty, dangerous, selfish, and expensive, and there are myriad better ways for people to move around their lives if we would only give them the chance.
Reposted by Stephanie
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
I don't understand how anyone can watch how blatantly Grok is manipulated to answer the way ownership desires it to and then act like the other LLM chatbots couldn't possibly be similarly but less obviously compromised to produce responses in whatever way corporate interests and priorities dictate.
November 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
This is the kind of art we need in our lives blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/21/c...
Chicago Artist Starts His Own Postal Service — And Will Deliver And Read Mail To Anyone For Free
A whimsical yet very serious public art project by Logan Square artist Charlie Dean is gaining traction as an alternative to a paid postal service, designed to be used for monumental conversations or ...
blockclubchicago.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This is the kind of art we need in our lives blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/21/c...
Reposted by Stephanie
This is fucking brilliant, and you should read it: lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
This is fucking brilliant, and you should read it: lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Reposted by Stephanie
Do I add this to my CV as an invited lecture? 🤔
November 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Do I add this to my CV as an invited lecture? 🤔
Reposted by Stephanie
i can’t believe a good thing happened we should do this more often
November 5, 2025 at 2:26 AM
i can’t believe a good thing happened we should do this more often
Reposted by Stephanie
Improve your product from the inside out. Dr. Janna Lipenkova's new article teaches you how to use SLMs to analyze user feedback and support chats in real-time, providing insights before launching user-facing AI features.
It Doesn’t Need to Be a Chatbot | Towards Data Science
A more organic, incremental approach to integrating AI into existing products
towardsdatascience.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Improve your product from the inside out. Dr. Janna Lipenkova's new article teaches you how to use SLMs to analyze user feedback and support chats in real-time, providing insights before launching user-facing AI features.
Reposted by Stephanie
“”AI” is a failed technology. … LLMs haven’t met any markers of success we’d apply to, well, literally any other technology.” Great article by Ethan Marcotte @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
Against the protection of stocking frames. — ethanmarcotte.com
“Artificial intelligence” is a failed technology. It’s time we described it that way.
ethanmarcotte.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
“”AI” is a failed technology. … LLMs haven’t met any markers of success we’d apply to, well, literally any other technology.” Great article by Ethan Marcotte @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
This is awesome news- I loved this experience the past few months
Car-free "Meet Me On Milwaukee" events will return to Wicker Park next year. blockclubchi.co/49yN4LU
November 3, 2025 at 11:55 PM
This is awesome news- I loved this experience the past few months
Reposted by Stephanie
I said there was something up with this operation and they just put it in the deck. The real business model is Ads, Data Mining, and Licensing of the products built on the data.
Ads. Data. Licensing. With a side of courier bot. 9/14
Ads. Data. Licensing. With a side of courier bot. 9/14
November 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I said there was something up with this operation and they just put it in the deck. The real business model is Ads, Data Mining, and Licensing of the products built on the data.
Ads. Data. Licensing. With a side of courier bot. 9/14
Ads. Data. Licensing. With a side of courier bot. 9/14
Reposted by Stephanie
Republicans understand that the best way to kill social programs is to paint their beneficiaries as Black, as support for these programs declines — even amongst white people who need them — when they think large numbers of Black people will benefit.
news.stanford.edu/stories/2018...
news.stanford.edu/stories/2018...
November 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Republicans understand that the best way to kill social programs is to paint their beneficiaries as Black, as support for these programs declines — even amongst white people who need them — when they think large numbers of Black people will benefit.
news.stanford.edu/stories/2018...
news.stanford.edu/stories/2018...
Reposted by Stephanie
Such a perfect example of what we all give up when we refuse to address basic inequalities. I don't want to live in a country where all the public space is militarized to keep hungry people from stealing food, just give them money to buy food!
California police boost patrols at grocery stores as millions set to lose SNAP benefits
California police boost patrols at grocery stores as millions set to lose SNAP benefits
www.foxla.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Such a perfect example of what we all give up when we refuse to address basic inequalities. I don't want to live in a country where all the public space is militarized to keep hungry people from stealing food, just give them money to buy food!
Reposted by Stephanie
I hope this is becoming widespread here. Thinking of the landscapes taken this week and how many may not know where they’re at risk.
Chicagoans are starting to do exactly this.
October 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I hope this is becoming widespread here. Thinking of the landscapes taken this week and how many may not know where they’re at risk.
Reposted by Stephanie
OpenAI put out a press release today addressing mental health concerns. I have many issues with it, but something super troubling:
They estimate a WEEKLY prevalence of 560,000 users displaying signs of psychosis or mania and 1.2 MILLION users indicating suicidal plan/intent.
They estimate a WEEKLY prevalence of 560,000 users displaying signs of psychosis or mania and 1.2 MILLION users indicating suicidal plan/intent.
Strengthening ChatGPT’s responses in sensitive conversations
We worked with more than 170 mental health experts to help ChatGPT more reliably recognize signs of distress, respond with care, and guide people toward real-world support–reducing responses that fall...
openai.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:45 PM
OpenAI put out a press release today addressing mental health concerns. I have many issues with it, but something super troubling:
They estimate a WEEKLY prevalence of 560,000 users displaying signs of psychosis or mania and 1.2 MILLION users indicating suicidal plan/intent.
They estimate a WEEKLY prevalence of 560,000 users displaying signs of psychosis or mania and 1.2 MILLION users indicating suicidal plan/intent.
Reposted by Stephanie
The federal government does not fund health care for undocumented people. Punto.
Republicans are spreading lies while kicking 15 million people off of health care and raising their premiums.
Republicans are spreading lies while kicking 15 million people off of health care and raising their premiums.
October 26, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The federal government does not fund health care for undocumented people. Punto.
Republicans are spreading lies while kicking 15 million people off of health care and raising their premiums.
Republicans are spreading lies while kicking 15 million people off of health care and raising their premiums.
Reposted by Stephanie
Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez and Alderman Anthony Quezada released a statement alerting 35th Ward and 8 district residents about heavy ICE activity. They advise vulnerable residents to take extreme caution.
October 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez and Alderman Anthony Quezada released a statement alerting 35th Ward and 8 district residents about heavy ICE activity. They advise vulnerable residents to take extreme caution.
I sat down and tried to really break down the AI economy in tech startups, and I think it illuminates a lot of the phenomena we see on the ground!
Why are so many companies just slapping a chatbot on their product and calling it innovation? @stephaniekirmer.com's new article explains how market analysts and the need for visible "AI-ness" are driving superficial implementations.
Can We Save the AI Economy? | Towards Data Science
And do we want to?
towardsdatascience.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I sat down and tried to really break down the AI economy in tech startups, and I think it illuminates a lot of the phenomena we see on the ground!
Reposted by Stephanie
this rocks. when indiana edu killed the student newspaper, Purdue stepped up, printed the forbidden issue, drove it to Bloomington and stocked the boxes.
October 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
this rocks. when indiana edu killed the student newspaper, Purdue stepped up, printed the forbidden issue, drove it to Bloomington and stocked the boxes.
Reposted by Stephanie
Okay, for the folks who asked: here's the majority AI view, writing up the reasonable, thoughtful view on AI that the vast majority of people in tech hold, that gets overshadowed by the bluster and hype of the tycoons trying to shill their nonsense. anildash.com/2025/10/17/t... Please share!
The Majority AI View - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
anildash.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Okay, for the folks who asked: here's the majority AI view, writing up the reasonable, thoughtful view on AI that the vast majority of people in tech hold, that gets overshadowed by the bluster and hype of the tycoons trying to shill their nonsense. anildash.com/2025/10/17/t... Please share!
Reposted by Stephanie
I haven't had the capacity to keep up with moderation lists for a bit, but this one is really obvious, so I'm stealing some energy from Future Me: a list for the extremely obvious wave of inauthentic accounts following today's newly-created US gov accounts
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
October 18, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I haven't had the capacity to keep up with moderation lists for a bit, but this one is really obvious, so I'm stealing some energy from Future Me: a list for the extremely obvious wave of inauthentic accounts following today's newly-created US gov accounts
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Stephanie
the actual story here, which the media never talks about, is that police in this country have become a discrete right-wing political operation. the story isn't about cops leaving (they're lying about that), it's about the police trying to exert influence over elections.
October 13, 2025 at 1:01 AM
the actual story here, which the media never talks about, is that police in this country have become a discrete right-wing political operation. the story isn't about cops leaving (they're lying about that), it's about the police trying to exert influence over elections.
Reposted by Stephanie
Listen to the response to this and look how easy it is to say it.
We have armed secret police kidnapping people off the street based on the color of their skin.
When we win: we will haul them before a Senate committee. The masks will come off. There will be consequences.
When we win: we will haul them before a Senate committee. The masks will come off. There will be consequences.
October 12, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Listen to the response to this and look how easy it is to say it.
Reposted by Stephanie
Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE
Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in
Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle
Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired
Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her
Truth: No cars rammed ICE
Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in
Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle
Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired
Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.
trib.al
October 6, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE
Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in
Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle
Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired
Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her
Truth: No cars rammed ICE
Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in
Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle
Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired
Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her
Reposted by Stephanie
October 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Stephanie
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson:
"Private establishments can partner with us to make it clear that private property is private property and ICE cannot enter establishments without a valid warrant ... If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will."
"Private establishments can partner with us to make it clear that private property is private property and ICE cannot enter establishments without a valid warrant ... If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will."
October 6, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson:
"Private establishments can partner with us to make it clear that private property is private property and ICE cannot enter establishments without a valid warrant ... If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will."
"Private establishments can partner with us to make it clear that private property is private property and ICE cannot enter establishments without a valid warrant ... If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will."
Reposted by Stephanie
It’d be a mistake to take Conway’s comments as anything other than disingenuous, but it’s worth noting that his back-of-the-napkin estimate is wildly off. O’Hare alone, which wouldn’t be part of the program, takes up 5% of the city’s area. Then there are dozens of square miles of industrial areas.
@aldconway.bsky.social, a billionaire’s son, can’t imagine spending $40 million (0.2% of the budget) on sidewalk snow plowing, an essential service that would help every Chicagoan especially disabled people, parents, and seniors. Oh, and police misconduct has cost $231.2 million in 2025 already.
October 4, 2025 at 2:33 AM
It’d be a mistake to take Conway’s comments as anything other than disingenuous, but it’s worth noting that his back-of-the-napkin estimate is wildly off. O’Hare alone, which wouldn’t be part of the program, takes up 5% of the city’s area. Then there are dozens of square miles of industrial areas.