Welcome to the podcast from 404 Media where Joseph, Sam, Emanuel, and Jason catch you up on the stories we published this week. 404 Media is a journalist-owned ...
This week we start with Jason's article on how a Facebook group for Cybertruck owners is completely overrun with people flipping them off. Then Joseph explains how U.S. crypto traders are buying IDs from the tropical nation of Palau to skirt the law. Then in the subscribers-only section (with a content warning), we talk about Jason's story on a big Instagram bug that pushed really horrible stuff into ordinary peoples' feeds.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/nhgK-e3AeR0
SXSW event information
Facebook Cybertruck Owners Group Copes With Relentless Mockery
Buying a $250 Residency Card From a Tropical Island Let Me Bypass U.S. Crypto Laws
Instagram 'Error' Turned Reels Into Neverending Scroll of Murder, Gore, and Violence
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43:01
The Rise of AI Book Ripoffs
We start this week's episode with Joseph finding out someone basically ripped off his book with a potentially AI-generated summary. Emanuel also updates us on some of the impact his reporting on AI in libraries has had. After the break, Sam tells us all about a Y Combinator supported startup that is straight-up dehumanizing factory workers. In the subscribers-only section, we talk about an apparent act of protest from inside the U.S. government involving an AI video of Musk and Trump.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Smx3xHTEZiE
SXSW event information
A Slop Publisher Sold a Ripoff of My Book on Amazon
Y Combinator Supports AI Startup Dehumanizing Factory Workers
AI Video of Trump Sucking Musk's Toes Blasted on Government Office TVs
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42:44
DOGE's Website, Hacked
This week we start with Jason's story about anyone being able to push updates to DOGE.gov website. Then we talk about other stories with the DEI.gov and Waste.gov sites. After the break, Sam tells us all about some lawyers who get caught using AI in a case. In the subscribers-only section, we chat about a true crime documentary YouTube channel where the murders were all AI-generated.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/wqjeDFk9LMo
Anyone Can Push Updates to the DOGE.gov Website
Researcher Captures Contents of ‘DEI.gov’ Before It Was Hidden Behind a Password
Elon Musk's Waste.gov Is Just a WordPress Theme Placeholder Page
Lawyers Caught Citing AI-Hallucinated Cases Call It a 'Cautionary Tale'
A ‘True Crime’ Documentary Series Has Millions of Views. The Murders Are All AI-Generated
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38:58
AI Is Breaking Our Brains
This week we discuss a new Microsoft study that finds using generative AI is "atrophying" people's cognition and critical thinking skills and the right's war on Wikipedia.
Articles discussed:
Microsoft Study Finds AI Makes Human Cognition “Atrophied and Unprepared”
Wikipedia Prepares for 'Increase in Threats' to US Editors From Musk and His Allies
You Can’t Post Your Way Out of Fascism
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50:51
Inside Musk’s Government Takeover
We dedicate the whole free section of this episode to Musk’s takeover of the federal government. We got audio from a meeting in which a Musk ally laid out their plans for AI across the government, and revealed who is now the head of HR for DOGE. In the subscribers only section, we talk about how your public library probably already has a bunch of AI slop.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/fTgHpq4-psQ
‘Things Are Going to Get Intense:’ How a Musk Ally Plans to Push AI on the Government
Musk’s DOGE Brings in HR Consultant Focused on ‘Non-Woke’ DEI 'Aligned With Our Faith’
AI-Generated Slop Is Already In Your Public Library
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Welcome to the podcast from 404 Media where Joseph, Sam, Emanuel, and Jason catch you up on the stories we published this week. 404 Media is a journalist-owned digital media company exploring the way technology is shaping–and is shaped by–our world. We bring you unparalleled access to hidden worlds both online and IRL through investigative reporting, smart blogging, and breaking news. At 404 Media you’ll read, and hear, stories you can’t find anywhere else written by journalists who are leading experts on their beats. Subscribe to 404 Media at 404media.co to gain access to an ad-free version of this podcast, as well as a bonus podcast episodes. Subscribers are the bedrock of building a sustainable business for our journalism.
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