My favourite photo of Karen as possums were transferred (thanks, @KarlaSkada!)
What a mind and what a joy to see so many faces of those challenging the social silences, tropes, and accumulation of power.
@Kobotic
- 97 Followers
- 30 Following
- 40 Posts
AI, weapons, governance, nano, climate crisis, security and dachshunds. Not necessarily in that order.
Kathy Reid
Prof. Emily M. Bender(she/her)In early July, I had the opporunity to discuss The AI Con with @Kobotic at RMIT. ABC is presenting part of that conversation in their programme "Big Ideas" on Tuesday Sept 2:
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/the-ai-con-hype-machine-emily-m-bender/105669726
The AI Con — unpacking the artificial intelligence hype machine - ABC listen
Is the world really in the midst of an AI revolution, or is it all just clever marketing, powered by immense amounts of money, capital and hype? This episode arms you to spot AI hype in all its guises, expose the exploitation and power-grabs it aims to hide, and push back against it at work and daily life. The conversation with Emily M Bender was recorded at RMIT University in partnership with Readings books on 1 July 2025. The panel discussion Reboot the Narrative was recorded at the Rose Scott Women Writers Festival on 27 June. Speakers Emily M Bender — Professor of Linguistics and Adjunct Professor in the School of Computer Science and the Information School at the University of Washington Co-author (with Alex Hanna), The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want Co-host, Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 podcast Kobi Leins (host) — Digital ethics and human rights lawyer Author, New War Technologies and International Law: The Legal Limits to Weaponising Nanomaterials Tracey Spicer — Journalist and broadcaster, author of Man-Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future Paula Bray — Chief Digital officer at the State Library of Victoria Lucy Hayward — Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Society of Authors Ally Burnham (host) — Screen writer and novelist, author, Swallow
Have you read @karenhao book #EmpireOfAI, chronicling the rise of Sam Altman and #OpenAI?
Want to?
It's fantastic - meticulously researched, detailed and an incredible character analysis of one of the most influential people and companies of our time.
My favourite chapter is the last one - what would it take for the Empire of AI to fall?
In #Melbourne #Naarm?
Come see Karen in conversation with @Kobotic presented by #ReadingsBooks, this Friday night at #RMIT.
Entry is free, tix going fast though.
Karen Hao talks AI
Join us for a riveting conversation between esteemed journalist Karen Hao and Dr Kobi Leins. Meticulously researched, carefully curated, and not pulling any punches, Karen Hao’s book is urgently needed to understand the history, context and the future of AI. Karen Hao’s Empire of AI uncovers the characters, the controversy…
Paul White@KathyReid @Kobotic @karenhao And you can listen to Karen talk to Paris Marx, which was a wonderful conversation.
https://www.techwontsave.us/episode/280_we_all_suffer_from_openais_pursuit_of_scale_w_karen_hao
https://www.techwontsave.us/episode/280_we_all_suffer_from_openais_pursuit_of_scale_w_karen_hao
If you loved @Kobotic in conversation with Emily M. Bender in Melbourne recently than you will also love her in conversation with @karenhao, talking to her new book #EmpireOfAI in which she forensically traces the rise of OpenAI, Sam Altman, and the power they now wield in the world.
This will sell out.
Friday 5th September 1800-1900hrs
Storey Hall, RMIT, Melbourne
Karen Hao talks AI
Join us for a riveting conversation between esteemed journalist Karen Hao and Dr Kobi Leins. Meticulously researched, carefully curated, and not pulling any punches, Karen Hao’s book is urgently needed to understand the history, context and the future of AI. Karen Hao’s Empire of AI uncovers the characters, the controversy…
OPCWOn this day 2️⃣ years ago, OPCW verified that the world's declared chemical weapons stockpiles had been irreversibly destroyed.
Declared stockpiles are those officially reported by States Parties under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
This historic milestone marked major progress, but our mission is far from over. The OPCW continues its critical work to ensure that chemistry is used only for peaceful purposes 🕊️
JPI have published some thoughts on last week's talk on The AI Con with @emilymbender and @Kobotic https://pivotnine.com/blog/musings-on-the-ai-con/
Pat AllanThere was lots of wisdom from tonight's session of @emilymbender in conversation with @Kobotic. Perhaps my favourite was the reminder that we shouldn’t let others (or ourselves) presume that AI is inevitable, as that wrongly implies we don't have agency.
Also, that whenever someone’s hyping it, replace "AI" with “a pile of racist linear algebra” in their statements for a more accurate take.
What a brilliant session with @emilymbender in conversation with @Kobotic at #RMIT tonight.
Key takeaways:
- #BenderRule - name the language you're working in
- #AI is not one technology - it's many in a trenchcoat. Be specific.
- Who benefits from the changes wrought by AI and who bears the harms and externalities?
- AI is hype - learn enough to cut through it, ask difficult questions
- "Pile of racist linear algebra"
- Read everything by @karenhao
- Read #TheAICon by Emily and @alex
- Read @CriticalAI
