I’ve been wondering about and experimenting with tech opt-out more generally for a while and it’s disappointingly difficult given how it’s embedded. Great questions
Such a great article Alicia. You've perfectly articulated some of the most problematic issues with AI culture.
When AI first became a thing, I was frustrated at how one-sided the conversation was. It seemed to me that the precautionary principle was being thrown out the window, and no systems thinking (or even critical thinking) was being applied in the roll-out of this tech.
I'm so glad to see more balanced conversations emerging that aren't all about how AI is "inevitable" and that we just need to get on board or be left behind. I'm seeing a rise in voices that focus on things we can do to slow it down, regulate it properly, and make it helpful to humans, rather than harmful. It's such a relief to see.
As an ex-librarian who works in tech, I look forward to reading your perspective on AI. About 8 months ago, I read "AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order", written in 2018 by Kai-Fu Lee. When DeepSeek popped up this year, I had a WTF moment (which is why I'm begrudgingly trying to make friends with Co-Pilot et al.)
Letting the Kool-Aid Crew dominate the conversation on AI is a really bad idea. We need people with a sense of social justice to join in because it is going to REALLY change things - and for a fair percentage of the population, not in a great way.
Thank gawd you said it! Looking forward to your deep dive on this, Alicia. No doubt you will be covering the risks of unconscious bias and inbuilt misogyny, but my biggest worry about AI becoming the 'new normal' is the drive by the privileged developer dudes (and the iterative systems themselves) to ditch diversity. If only they could comprehend the wisdom of Caroline Criado Perez's bestselling book, Invisible Women.
It's also worth noting that AI (in and of itself) has been around for YONKS. What ppl are getting their knickers in a twist about is Gen AI, as in generative AI, not general AI. Having said that, the models produced by 'old-fashioned' AI (mostly various forms of ML) have been roundly critiqued, and rightly so, by the likes of Cathy O'Neill (Weapons of Math Destruction) and Tracey Spicer (Man-Made).
Looking forward to reading your take on this.
Also, here's a hell yeah to getting the same ol same ol off the stage.
Someone had to say it, and you did, Alicia - thank you!
It seems to me that if you aren't talking AI, you can't be a cool kid, but to be honest, everyone, including the big four, banks, and big institutions, think they know. That in itself is scary, and there is no consistency.
AI is like a beast on the run with no fences, and you can't believe a word anyone says about it because it's moving so fast no one actually knows. I'm looking forward to your next chapters with anticipation.
Agree completely, the worst evangelists are those hyping AI to get the necessary investment to keep their companies rolling. AI in my view needs proper context, they're programmes written to analyse large data, they don't think or apply judgement, useful tools with HI (human intelligence) managing them. The AI evangelists also seem to have no concept whatsoever of the structure and dynamics of the human psyche or mind, If they did they might know that AI can only ever be junior to HI. AI can be problematic though without proper control.
Long time no see, love that you're on sabbatical and I've been enjoying your substack articles. The thoroughness and thinking behind them are impressive.
I've been thinking about AI from a critical thinking angle - I've written a book around how you can use it to question your answers, rather than answer your questions. Happy to share with you if you think it might be useful (it's at early readers stage).
From a tech perspective, it may seem a bit nepotistic, but my husband has a podcast and he's actually very well placed in the AI and bitcoin space because of recent work experience. I don't think you'd agree with all his takes but they are getting a lot of traction with some interesting people.
Firstly, great that you’re planning to look behind the mirror because I agree this is not really about the technology - it’s about people and change. MS did an event in Welly last week and while espousing all the bingo terms you call out - they mentioned the laying off of 3% of their staff recently is directly attributable to AI. The number was 6,000 people (so 3% of global staff I’m guessing). Secondly I’m really interested (as I was back in 2000 when IT was impacting teaching in the UK), in how experienced staff will support, coach, mentor, develop and lead incoming staff who may have completed qualifications, written letters and CVs, or been promoted in previous roles for standards they have met which are AI-augmented. Will Gen Z/Gen A simply produce artefacts like policies, strategies, plans or creative outputs that ‘outclass’ people doing that stuff completely or partially unaided by AI?
Kia ora Alicia, I'm excited to see what you write on this topic. A couple of resources I recommend if you haven't seen them already are Brian Merchant's substack (Blood in the Machine) and the project "Better Images of AI" which has an awesome image library and guidance about using images to more clearly communicate about AI (including the aspects often hidden from view). And finally, a plug for some of my own writing on associated topics, there might be something of use for you in here: https://www.antistaticpartners.com/ai-and-other-stories . Anna
A couple of topics that I’d like to see debated. Can we opt out & still participate in modern society? How?
And making sure people understand the energy demands and their impact.
I’ve been wondering about and experimenting with tech opt-out more generally for a while and it’s disappointingly difficult given how it’s embedded. Great questions
Such a great article Alicia. You've perfectly articulated some of the most problematic issues with AI culture.
When AI first became a thing, I was frustrated at how one-sided the conversation was. It seemed to me that the precautionary principle was being thrown out the window, and no systems thinking (or even critical thinking) was being applied in the roll-out of this tech.
I'm so glad to see more balanced conversations emerging that aren't all about how AI is "inevitable" and that we just need to get on board or be left behind. I'm seeing a rise in voices that focus on things we can do to slow it down, regulate it properly, and make it helpful to humans, rather than harmful. It's such a relief to see.
As an ex-librarian who works in tech, I look forward to reading your perspective on AI. About 8 months ago, I read "AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order", written in 2018 by Kai-Fu Lee. When DeepSeek popped up this year, I had a WTF moment (which is why I'm begrudgingly trying to make friends with Co-Pilot et al.)
Letting the Kool-Aid Crew dominate the conversation on AI is a really bad idea. We need people with a sense of social justice to join in because it is going to REALLY change things - and for a fair percentage of the population, not in a great way.
Strongly agree! With anything, but especially with this
Thank gawd you said it! Looking forward to your deep dive on this, Alicia. No doubt you will be covering the risks of unconscious bias and inbuilt misogyny, but my biggest worry about AI becoming the 'new normal' is the drive by the privileged developer dudes (and the iterative systems themselves) to ditch diversity. If only they could comprehend the wisdom of Caroline Criado Perez's bestselling book, Invisible Women.
A banger book! Yep, plus I wrote a bit about bias embedded in AI last week too - check it out.
It's also worth noting that AI (in and of itself) has been around for YONKS. What ppl are getting their knickers in a twist about is Gen AI, as in generative AI, not general AI. Having said that, the models produced by 'old-fashioned' AI (mostly various forms of ML) have been roundly critiqued, and rightly so, by the likes of Cathy O'Neill (Weapons of Math Destruction) and Tracey Spicer (Man-Made).
Looking forward to reading your take on this.
Also, here's a hell yeah to getting the same ol same ol off the stage.
Someone had to say it, and you did, Alicia - thank you!
It seems to me that if you aren't talking AI, you can't be a cool kid, but to be honest, everyone, including the big four, banks, and big institutions, think they know. That in itself is scary, and there is no consistency.
AI is like a beast on the run with no fences, and you can't believe a word anyone says about it because it's moving so fast no one actually knows. I'm looking forward to your next chapters with anticipation.
Love this post, and I’m right there with you. It’s pissing me off to no end to see these futurists swap one capitalism-aligned meme for another.
I’d highly recommend the first and last podcast in this list (and I know I have been banging on about this one for nearly two years – the “AI and the super organism” one). https://www.foxwizard.com/wisen-up-artificial-intelligence/
Thanks mate! “Swapping one capitalism-aligned meme for another” is wildly accurate
Agree completely, the worst evangelists are those hyping AI to get the necessary investment to keep their companies rolling. AI in my view needs proper context, they're programmes written to analyse large data, they don't think or apply judgement, useful tools with HI (human intelligence) managing them. The AI evangelists also seem to have no concept whatsoever of the structure and dynamics of the human psyche or mind, If they did they might know that AI can only ever be junior to HI. AI can be problematic though without proper control.
The people who purport to know the most about AI seem to know the least about the environments and outputs they’re seeking to change or replace
Hi Alicia!
Long time no see, love that you're on sabbatical and I've been enjoying your substack articles. The thoroughness and thinking behind them are impressive.
I've been thinking about AI from a critical thinking angle - I've written a book around how you can use it to question your answers, rather than answer your questions. Happy to share with you if you think it might be useful (it's at early readers stage).
From a tech perspective, it may seem a bit nepotistic, but my husband has a podcast and he's actually very well placed in the AI and bitcoin space because of recent work experience. I don't think you'd agree with all his takes but they are getting a lot of traction with some interesting people.
https://pca.st/podcast/f7ed6950-fc8c-013d-471c-02bb5ef11301
Happy to chat or help in anyway I can, and no doubt you've been inundated with answers to your call out!
Have a great weekend!
Bethan
P.s. my nMBA illustration piece is still pride of place above my desk 😊
Firstly, great that you’re planning to look behind the mirror because I agree this is not really about the technology - it’s about people and change. MS did an event in Welly last week and while espousing all the bingo terms you call out - they mentioned the laying off of 3% of their staff recently is directly attributable to AI. The number was 6,000 people (so 3% of global staff I’m guessing). Secondly I’m really interested (as I was back in 2000 when IT was impacting teaching in the UK), in how experienced staff will support, coach, mentor, develop and lead incoming staff who may have completed qualifications, written letters and CVs, or been promoted in previous roles for standards they have met which are AI-augmented. Will Gen Z/Gen A simply produce artefacts like policies, strategies, plans or creative outputs that ‘outclass’ people doing that stuff completely or partially unaided by AI?
Kia ora Alicia, I'm excited to see what you write on this topic. A couple of resources I recommend if you haven't seen them already are Brian Merchant's substack (Blood in the Machine) and the project "Better Images of AI" which has an awesome image library and guidance about using images to more clearly communicate about AI (including the aspects often hidden from view). And finally, a plug for some of my own writing on associated topics, there might be something of use for you in here: https://www.antistaticpartners.com/ai-and-other-stories . Anna
Thanks Anna, I’ll check your links out.
One more that I totally forgot about from Rachel Coldicutt in the UK who does great thinking on the impacts of technology - some really useful definitional stuff in here: https://www.careful.industries/blog/2025-4-what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-ai
This is great! Love your work!
In case it's useful, here's a couple of links;
https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/engineering-and-ai/
https://www.engineeringnz.org/courses-events/event-template/?eventtemplate=4338-engineering-and-ai-qa®ion=IPENZT
Thanks Adrian
I would love to chat with you I am doing some research in this space right now for my masters missmack78@gmail.com
Looking forward to your longer article! Certainly a few things that need to be discussed urgently when it comes to AI.
well said.
here's some thought matter on the ai risk topic: https://erinkenneally.substack.com/