What Casey Newton’s new essay skewering AI skepticism does—and does not—get right
The Phony Comforts of AI Optimism
A few months ago, Casey Newton of Platformer ran a piece called "The phony comforts of AI skepticism," framing those who would criticize generative AI as "having fun," damning them as "hyper-fixated on the things [AI] can't do." I am not going to focus too hard on this
The phony comforts of useful idiots
On Casey Newton and the shallowness of anti-skepticism.
Contra Ptacek's Terrible Article On AI — Ludicity
A few days ago, I was presented with an article titled “My AI Skeptic Friends Are All Nuts” by Thomas Ptacek. I thought it was not very good, and didn't give it a second thought. To quote the formidable Baldur Bjarnason:
Who and What comprise AI Skepticism?
An attempt to do justice to a diverse community
Wisereads Vol. 21 — The latest Howard Marks, Ethan Mollick on AI, and The Communist Manifesto
233. "The Illusion of Thinking" — Thoughts on This Important Paper
This is a fantastic paper. I just love it. tl;dr AI is not human. Anthropomorphization has been bad for AI, LLMs, and Chat. Clippy walked so today's AI could run.
Don't let AI make you dumber - Marginal REVOLUTION
That is the topic of my latest Free Press column, here is one excerpt: I do not think the skeptics would put it this way, but as I read Conti, I find he has a pretty bleak fundamental view of humanity. Are we all really just looking to veg out and abandon curiosity and inquiry, […]
Artificial Intelligence | The Paper Pilot
The Paper Pilot's digital garden of thoughts on philosophy, politics, and sociology
Is there something it is like to be an AI?
Posted on Wednesday 2 Jul 2025. 1,593 words, 6 links. By Matt Webb.
Stuck in the middle: Being an engineer & artist in the AI era | Annie Sexton | Offprint
I'm an AI skeptic, through and through. But I also voluntarily use AI nearly every day. So naturally, you might be asking: what the heck?
Trevor Paglen and Holly Herndon on Making Art with AI and What the Discourse Is Missing
The artists talk process, slop, and why optimism and pessimism don’t quite cover it.
Generative AI | The Paper Pilot
The Paper Pilot's digital garden of thoughts on philosophy, politics, and sociology
"I just find AI to be creatively soulless": Casey Hudson on the controversial tech and Star Wars: Fate Of The Old Republic
"I’m just really unimpressed with it."
