What makes something data? Some thoughts on that question, and how answers to it help us understand AI hype:
Medium
What makes something data?
This is a question I posted on BlueSky on Friday 11/21/25, inspired by a talk I recently attended about evaluation of “AI” systems. I think…
AI is good for … democracy? @Alex Hanna and I think not. But of course the hypemongers would try this angle too giving us great fodder for the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 livestream: Monday, December 1, noon Pacific
Twitch
Twitch
Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers.
A little belatedly sharing this piece that I published in The Chronicle of Higher Educations's Opinion Forum (sorry full text is paywalled) https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-ai-is-changing-higher-education image
Today! ~~~ When self-professed defenders of workers’ rights are turning to chatbots for “research”, we’ve got a problem. Join us for the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream, in which @Alex Hanna and I will investigate some recent disappointments in labor research together with Sophie Song: Monday, Nov 17, noon PT,
Twitch
Twitch
Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers.
Join us tomorrow! ~~~ When self-professed defenders of workers’ rights are turning to chatbots for “research”, we’ve got a problem. Join us for the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream, in which @Alex Hanna and I will investigate some recent disappointments in labor research together with Sophie Song: Monday, Nov 17, noon PT,
Twitch
Twitch
Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers.
When self-professed defenders of workers’ rights are turning to chatbots for “research”, we’ve got a problem. Join us for the next Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream, in which @Alex Hanna and I will investigate some recent disappointments in labor research together with Sophie Song: Monday, Nov 17, noon PT,
Twitch
Twitch
Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers.
New on the Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 newsletter: @npub1v9aa...5z6v and I write about OpenAI's transparent attempt to shift accountability.
OpenAI Tries to Shift Responsibility to Users
OpenAI is trying to shift the blame for bad legal and medical advice from its chatbot away from the company and onto users. We agree that no chatbo...
I recently read a talk announcement about "AI" and K-12 education that looked like it maybe, maybe embedded a critical perspective but was still dressed up in the language of AI hype, presupposing both job market & education "reshaped by AI". 🧵>>
I appreciate the work of these authors to show that this problem not only is still here but has grown:
NBC News
AI's capabilities may be exaggerated by flawed tests, according to new study
A study from the Oxford Internet Institute analyzed 445 tests used to evaluate AI models.
 But it is also quite frustrating. 🧵>>
Really appreciate this review of our book (w/ @Alex Hanna "By insisting on the term “automation,” Bender and Hanna reveal that what’s sold as innovation is often just labor displacement with better branding." "…a demystifying, often hilarious lexicon that cuts through the fog of hype."
Los Angeles Review of Books
The Return of the Luddites | Los Angeles Review of Books
Erik J. Larson considers “The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want” by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna.