Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Tech Team Is What DOGE Should Have Been
The mayor of New York City has assembled a crew of Silicon Valley and United States Digital Service veterans to overhaul city services with better software.
Category: Backchannel
AI Slop Melodramas Are Taking Over X—and Their Creators Are Cashing In
Viral tales of good triumphing over evil are racking up millions of views. They’re almost entirely AI-generated clickbait.
Silicon Valley Is Completely Divided Over Chinese AI
The AI “startups” worth billions of dollars are raising alarm bells about Chinese AI. The smaller players have a totally different take.
Even If You Hate AI, You Will Use Google AI Search
The search giant’s AI-crafted answers are so convenient, you’ll be sucked in—to the detriment of the web and the artists and thinkers behind it.
Nick Bostrom Has a Plan for Humanity’s ‘Big Retirement’
The philosopher thinks humans should pursue advanced AI and the promise of a “solved world.”
AI Drafting My Stories? Over My Dead Body
AI-assisted writing is creeping into newsrooms under the guise of efficiency. But the tradeoff may be more profound than publishers are willing to admit.
After Minneapolis, Tech CEOs Are Struggling to Stay Silent
Silicon Valley’s power brokers spent the past year currying favor with President Trump. Two deadly shootings in Minneapolis are now exposing the price of that bargain.
Former USDS Leaders Launch Tech Reform Project to Fix What DOGE Broke
The plan, which is still in its early stages, is spearheaded by former USDS administrator Mikey Dickerson.
You’re Thinking About AI and Water All Wrong
Fears about AI data centers’ water use have exploded. Experts say the reality is far more complicated than people think.
The Man Who Invented AGI
Everyone is obsessed with artificial general intelligence—the stage when AI can match all feats of human cognition. The guy who named it saw it as a threat.