David GerardMar 7
i am disconcerted by how many techies who saw through crypto *immediately* have fallen for AI krokodil
Show threadkatrinaMar 8
@davidgerard
With "AI", there is the perception that it sort-of works at the moment and they just need to fix a few bugs and everything will be perfect. Trying to challenge that argument is what I find most difficult.
Show threadDavid GerardMar 8
@katrinatransfem my usual answer is "you've been saying 'next model bro' for three years"
Show threadElias MårtensonMar 9

@davidgerard @katrinatransfem there is something fishy about the most recent influencer campaign. They even got Knuth to mention a specific product by name.

It's like they did psychological profiling on individuals, and then give them exactly what they need to praise them, and not their competitor (and of course push the concept as a whole bit only secondarily).

Show threadMaeMar 9
@loke @davidgerard @katrinatransfem it's odd how it feels like it all happened at once. I don't buy into it being a grand conspiracy, but I also wish there was an explanation
Show threadElias MårtensonMar 9
@Mae @davidgerard @katrinatransfem not a conspiracy, but a well executed marketing campaign, I think.
Show threadMaeMar 9
@loke @davidgerard @katrinatransfem I think an undisclosed guerrilla marketing campaign of this size qualifies as a conspiracy
Show threadElias MårtensonMar 9
@Mae @davidgerard @katrinatransfem has there been any youtubers as part pf this campaign? Youtube requires sponsored videos to be marked as being an ad.
Show threadGryphon Myers

@loke @Mae @davidgerard @katrinatransfem https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/06/google-microsoft-pay-creators-500000-and-more-to-promote-ai.html

I have a hunch (no evidence) that they're also using platforms like mechanical turk to lay astroturf. AI companies are very used to paying people in the global south slave wages for data labeling. Why wouldn't they do the same for marketing?

Mar 10 at 1:25pmMastodon for Android