It’s been a year of “deliberate agitation.” Witness Oxford University Press’ announcement that rage bait was Word of the Year. Compare with last year’s word brain rot: “outrage sparks engagement, algorithms amplify it, and constant exposure leaves us mentally exhausted.” Eliciting anger grabs attention, offers personal gain, promotes political sway – all in a marketplace… Continue reading ‘Rage bait’ – word of the year 2025
Happy Thanksgiving 2025
Food for thought … (click on image to see more)
The modern influencer dream – meritocracy’s ‘noble lie’ of mobility?
Billy, Sally, “What do you want to be when you get older?” We live in a hyper-connected world, a social media landscape of scaleable, accessible influence. Monetizing yourself – you are the product – is no longer just for traditional celebrities. As I’ve discussed elsewhere, a cardinal characteristic of the American psyche is a singular… Continue reading The modern influencer dream – meritocracy’s ‘noble lie’ of mobility?
Human welfare needs help – the AI welfare sideshow
Tools .. totems … T-factor (thalamocortical network) … consciousness in the circle of life, eh. [1] As mentioned elsewhere, remember that “there’s nobody home” when interacting with gen AI models and chatbots. Despite occasional chatbot psychosis where a user attributes some type of agency, perhaps even a consciousness, to a chatbot. Yet, expert commentary, as… Continue reading Human welfare needs help – the AI welfare sideshow
Shades of Victorian hubris – AI full speed ahead!
A better technology, a better humanity. A personal coach (and emotional pal) in everyone’s pocket. That’s the drift. Bet on it. Business is business, eh. If we don’t do it, then someone else will. If we can’t survive as a business, then no one will benefit. $$$ in play. Soft power. And so on, the… Continue reading Shades of Victorian hubris – AI full speed ahead!