Tech Won't Save Us

DATA VAMPIRES is a four-part series exploring the costs of hyperscale data centers and why tech billionaires are desperate to build more. In Part 1, we examine where “the cloud” came from and how it expands Amazon, Microsoft, and Google’s power. Full ep: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/data-v…

It’s always such a pleasure to have @danmcquillan on the show! I was particularly excited to chat about decomputing, the possibilities it offers, and how it can focus our critique of the exploitative tech systems we depend on.

AI is toxic. Smash the compute.

haven't listened yet, but @danmcquillan is saying what we need to hear on decomputing.

Decomputing is an important form of technological degrowth.

Is it possible to imagine a better future where we use less computation? The effects of AI hype almost demand it. This week @danmcquillan joins @parismarx to lay out the concept of decomputing as a different way of assessing technology. Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/286_de…

“There was an Xbox producer who actually recommended that laid-off workers use Al to kind of, you know, deal with the difficulties of being laid off” — Paris “Big slap in the face because the end goal of Al…is almost certainly to replace people” — Nathan

I don’t talk about video games much on the show, but I always love when I get the opportunity and this conversation with @Vahn16 is no exception! It was great to get his insights on what’s happening at Microsoft and the broader troubles facing game workers.

he’s right and he should say it

The video game industry is in a tough spot. Microsoft’s effort to remake it hasn’t helped. This week @Vahn16 joins @parismarx to discuss huge Xbox layoffs and how Microsoft’s plan to remake gaming around Game Pass hasn’t panned out. Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/285_mi…

This side of the AI tech revolution doesn't get much focus, it should. The militarisation of this tech especially by the US will shape the future, likely in ways we can't yet imagine. Light needs to be shone on this NOW.

Diving in now...

The US is bombing Iranian nuclear facilities, transferring AI tech to the Gulf states, and enabling Israel. This week @LalehKhalili joins @parismarx to discuss how the United States wields technology to enhance its power in the Middle East. Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/284_ho…

I had a fascinating chat with @yangyang_cheng about the growth of Huawei, the geopolitics of telecommunications, and how the US is often doing the very surveillance it accuses China of wanting to do to justify expelling Chinese companies from Western telecom systems.

We talk about chip restrictions today, but the original US target in its fight with China was Huawei. This week @yangyang_cheng joins @parismarx to discuss how the company became so powerful and what it tells us about global tech battles. Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/283_th…

Mark Carney’s decision to rescind Canada’s digital services tax is a cowardly move that shows Trump he can be pressured into trade concessions. It also shows Carney is willing to give into corporate demands, and particular those of the tech industry. disconnect.blog/p/mark-carney-…

"Speedrunning the social media harm cycle" is exactly the right phrase to understand what's happening here.

One of the early, essential @techwontsaveus episodes was about the California Ideology. Very good. techwontsave.us/episode/63_the…

Right at the moment where regulators are trying to address the harms of social media, chatbots are bringing a whole new range of issues that must be tackled before the escalate. It was great to get @nitashatiku’s insights on all the red flags we’re seeing with generative AI.

The harms arising from chatbots are escalating, and not nearly enough is being done to address them before they become a big problem. This week @nitashatiku joins @parismarx to discuss how chatbots are speedrunning the social media harm cycle. Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/282_ch…

Feels fitting to do an episode on Brazil in the week I’m actually in the country. So great to speak with @lais_fmartins to learn more about Brazil’s efforts to rein in major US tech companies!