The Sycophantic Web Is Winning Why the internet became a machine that tells you what you want to hear, and what to do about it.

Generative AI and social media tell users what they want to hear, Mike Caulfield writes. That's a problem, but a shift in thinking could fix it.

Conflict fatigue setting in

Pressed on crime rates, Littleproud questions whether we want to base everything on statistics

The absolute state of these cretinous cockwombles

When they said dark chocolate

I don't see how any business could make any plans for investment or capital expenditure in the next 90 days

Hong Kong Surfers Turn ‘Nothing Into Something’ The scene in the Chinese territory is concentrated at a few beaches with inconsistent swell. One intrepid surfer says it’s all about “turning nothing into something.”

“I’d say turning nothing into something is what our Hong Kong spirit is.” The surf scene in Hong Kong is concentrated at a few beaches that lack consistent year-round swell. Surfers there make the most of it.

We tried mass tariffs in 1828, and it crashed the economy. We tried again in 1930, and it crashed the economy.

Third time’s the charm, I guess.

Bail them out or lose food security. Quite a choice.

Interesting post.

The addendum seems to indicate that grok is mainly just picking up on vibes from X. Not saying that the output is inaccurate, but how much academic content (well-designed audits/studies to measure bias) is ingested into AI?

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Only tweaked when I got to "step down to focus on his Year 12 studies".

if you still have imposter syndrome you are really NGMI. these people are planning military operations on a private messaging service and accidentally added a journalist to the group chat

These stories are like catnip for me for reasons I'll never understand.

We now know far more about the em-dash than frankly anyone could or would sanely want to.

Got invited into a WhatsApp group chat with Shearer, Marlesy and Burgo, the other day. Said 'no thanks, cutting back on social media'.

60 Minutes Reporter Amelia Adams : The last time I was at the Capitol with a bunch of Proud Boys was on January 6, 2021, as they led the mob breaching barricades, smashing windows, breaking into Congress, and assaulting police officers who were attempting to defend the building. It was a violent and terrifying day, so returning to the scene with many of the same mob is surreal and unnerving. But what's most unsettling is Tarrio's quest for revenge and retribution for those who locked him up. I'm trying to understand the Proud Boys ideology and intentions, but Tarrio makes for a tricky interview subject. He's slippery and obtuse, evading questions and dismissing facts. He denies any involvement in the events of January 6, and insists he was unfairly prosecuted and convicted.

He also rejects the notion – and evidence - that the Proud Boys are extremist, neo-fascist thugs. "People think that we're a political group, we're not," he said. "We're a drinking club first, and we're fraternity first, and we're a brotherhood first before anything to do with politics … the goal is just to make better men." Over a period of four days, our 60 Minutes crew accompanied Tarrio and his Proud Boys - as well as his fiancée - to a conservative political conference, where he was greeted as a hero and treated like a rockstar. We ate meals together, drove around DC, chatted about life, love and family and everything in between. There were times when I warmed to Tarrio; he's polite and charming and respectful.

Can we just fucking not

I suspect a lot of good ppl can be bad given the right conditions.

Ass it is

A big part of the problem is stupid people have been convinced by rich people that AI is God, when AI is closer to an automatic dog food dispenser.

It's like a dodgy bluetick content gold rush over there.

@bsky.app CEO @jay.bsky.team details how the platform utilizes open networks to allow users to craft their own social media experience while maintaining their personal privacy.

Famously unreliable results. Not admitted in most US criminal courts today.

Sorry not sorry.

Very Lindt areas

Cyclones are terrible for everything except building block lists.

Labour’s AI copyright law short-sighted, says Emmy winner

Michael Price, who produced the soundtracks of Sherlock and Dracula, fears for musicians of the future if tech firms win the right to use their work free

Elon Musk’s Neuralink Files to Trademark ‘Telepathy’ The brain implant company cofounded by Elon Musk is moving to trademark several product names, including Telepathy and Telekinesis.

The brain implant company cofounded by Elon Musk is moving to trademark several product names, including Telepathy and Telekinesis.

Digital billboard in Boston's subway station that reads: "Finally, social media that's billionaire-proof."

Finally, social media that's billionaire-proof. ⚡

Bluesky's first IRL ads spotted in @boston.gov @mbta.com.

Eesh

The rate of erosion of the value of relatability in Australian politics sharply accelerated today.