The Maybe

Harken back to ten years ago, when tech executives were still cosplaying as progressives. They advocated for net neutrality, signed open letters opposing the Muslim ban, and even posted black squares in support of the Movement for Black Lives.

@alixdunn.com sat down with @stevenrenderos.bsky.social to make sense of our current political moment by tracing how we got here. Together, they unpack how AI billionaires are trying to buy the midterms, and how we can turn resistance against data centers into lasting, formidable political power.

Harken back to ten years ago, when tech executives were still cosplaying as progressives. They advocated for net neutrality, signed open letters opposing the Muslim ban, and even posted black squares in support of the Movement for Black Lives.

Fast forward to today, and the masks are off. AI execs are striking deals with fossil fuel companies, Big Tech is openly partnering with ICE and Israel, and tech billionaires are pouring millions into the midterms to shape a political future that protects their power. @stevenrenderos.bsky.social

Tech and AI companies promise massive growth for African economies, but history has shown us how outside actors have “grown” African economies through exploitation. So we have to ask: growth for whom, and at what cost?

@alixdunn.com will be in discussion with some phenomenal African advocates: - @chiomachuka.bsky.social, ED of TechHer - @mercymutemi.bsky.social, ED of The Oversight Lab - Kavisha Pillay, Founding Director of Campaign on Digital Ethics (CODE) - Kenneth Matlawe, Organiser at The Housing Assembly

Tech and AI companies promise massive growth for African economies, but history has shown us how outside actors have “grown” African economies through exploitation. So we have to ask: growth for whom, and at what cost?

“The Emperor is a fan of Flock.” Why did Anthony Ralphs need to dress up like Darth Vader to protest Flock cameras in San Diego? After months of making his case to the city council, it took a Darth Vader costume to get people to pay attention. @404media.co www.404media.co/darth-vader-...

In San Diego, community pressure is already reshaping the debate, with one councilmember reversing course and calling for the cameras to be shut off. www.latintimes.com/san-diego-co...

“The Emperor is a fan of Flock.” Why did Anthony Ralphs need to dress up like Darth Vader to protest Flock cameras in San Diego? After months of making his case to the city council, it took a Darth Vader costume to get people to pay attention. @404media.co www.404media.co/darth-vader-...

Sarah Hamid from @eff.org calls Flock and other automated license plate readers (ALPRs) ‘carceral tech’ -  tools used to facilitate the capture and coercion of entire groups of people. She connects the spread of Flock with America’s long history of using military tech to exert and consolidate power.

“The Emperor is a fan of Flock.” Why did Anthony Ralphs need to dress up like Darth Vader to protest Flock cameras in San Diego? After months of making his case to the city council, it took a Darth Vader costume to get people to pay attention. @404media.co www.404media.co/darth-vader-...

Across the US, people like Anthony are pushing back against Flock and other surveillance tech that police and elected officials are eager to install on every corner.

Exciting news: Computer Says Maybe is nominated for two more awards this year!!

Second, we’ve been nominated for a Signal Award for Best Limited Series on News & Politics for our series on AI and militarization, Computer Says Kill. vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...

Exciting news: Computer Says Maybe is nominated for two more awards this year!!

“AI is inevitable,” they say. “There’s a 10% chance AI will kill us all,” chased by: “But don’t worry, AI will cure cancer and solve climate change!” AI pushers declare these predictions as if they’re fact - and as if anyone with half a brain should jump on the train before it speeds past them.

We’re eyeing down the US midterms and other elections on the horizon. So this month we’re looking at politics—and the role AI is playing in elections—through one question: who gets to shape the future? Stay tuned for the rest of our series on prophecy and power 🔮

Big Tech used to make glib promises about sustainability and moving towards a greener future. But today, Google is using more energy than ever—they added one New Zealand's worth of energy consumption between this year and last.

@alixdunn.com sat down with @ketanjoshi.co, an independent climate writer who tracks the climate impact of data centers and AI. Ketan breaks down how Big Tech’s bet on AI is single-handedly keeping the fossil fuel industry alive—while killing our dreams of a sustainable energy grid. Listen here:

Big Tech used to make glib promises about sustainability and moving towards a greener future. But today, Google is using more energy than ever—they added one New Zealand's worth of energy consumption between this year and last.

What does it actually look like to push back when AI shows up in your kid’s school? A few weeks ago, we had one of our favorite doers, @ifeoma.bsky.social, on the podcast to answer just that.

When @ifeoma.bsky.social learned that schools in NM were asking kids to read to Amira, an AI avatar that records their voices without parental consent, she built a scrappy campaign to help parents, schools, and districts opt out - and she’s winning!

“AI is inevitable,” they say. “There’s a 10% chance AI will kill us all,” chased by: “But don’t worry, AI will cure cancer and solve climate change!” AI pushers declare these predictions as if they’re fact - and as if anyone with half a brain should jump on the train before it speeds past them.

But predictions, as @carissaveliz.bsky.social points out, aren’t truth. Truth doesn’t belong to the future; it only belongs to the past and the present. So why are we taking these prophecies as gospel?