Sarah Carmichael
@carmichaelsk.bsky.social
Geologist who studies tiny minerals that tell big stories. Professor at App State, Nat Geo Explorer, EC50'22. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
Influencers are a whole new category of 21st century scam merchant, sometimes with devastating consequences www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Influencers are a whole new category of 21st century scam merchant, sometimes with devastating consequences www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
The amount of time and effort it takes to get students to unlearn the Chromebook so they can learn how their actual computer actually works.
The Chromebook was the long game
Feeling queasy now I've learned that Google is not only now offering Gemini ambassador certificates to teachers but also awarding students and *children* to be corporate AI mascots. Coercive normalization of commercialized digital education. blog.google/outreach-ini...
November 23, 2025 at 12:43 AM
The amount of time and effort it takes to get students to unlearn the Chromebook so they can learn how their actual computer actually works.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
I saw someone compare AI to asbestos, in that people thought it was this amazing new material and put it in everything whether it needed it or not, but then realized too late that it was incredibly harmful. Do asbestos and AI both have a place? Yes. Do they need to be in everything out there? No.
October 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I saw someone compare AI to asbestos, in that people thought it was this amazing new material and put it in everything whether it needed it or not, but then realized too late that it was incredibly harmful. Do asbestos and AI both have a place? Yes. Do they need to be in everything out there? No.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
the promise of ai is that anyone can interface with a computer as if they had the knowledge of an expert
the reality of ai is that anyone has to have the knowledge of an expert to interface with a computer
the reality of ai is that anyone has to have the knowledge of an expert to interface with a computer
My new favorite kind of meme is "here are detailed instructions on how to turn off AI". 🔨
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
the promise of ai is that anyone can interface with a computer as if they had the knowledge of an expert
the reality of ai is that anyone has to have the knowledge of an expert to interface with a computer
the reality of ai is that anyone has to have the knowledge of an expert to interface with a computer
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
On Wednesday, the Trump administration circulated a six-page draft executive order titled “Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy.” It would create an “AI Litigation Task Force” led by the Attorney General to challenge state AI laws, among other provisions.
White House Circulates Draft Executive Order Targeting State AI Laws | TechPolicy.Press
The draft order, titled "Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy," followed a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump.
www.techpolicy.press
November 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM
On Wednesday, the Trump administration circulated a six-page draft executive order titled “Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy.” It would create an “AI Litigation Task Force” led by the Attorney General to challenge state AI laws, among other provisions.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
We’ve now reached the “bald eagles dropping cats onto cars” portion of the apocalypse.
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 AM
We’ve now reached the “bald eagles dropping cats onto cars” portion of the apocalypse.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
Every new piece of technology seems designed to invade what little privacy I have left so my life can be sold to private businesses and the surveillance state while also demanding a monthly payment.
November 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Every new piece of technology seems designed to invade what little privacy I have left so my life can be sold to private businesses and the surveillance state while also demanding a monthly payment.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
Material viewed by 404 Media shows data giant Thomson Reuters enriches license plate data with marriage, voter, and ownership records. The tool can predict where a car may be in the future.
This App Lets ICE Track Vehicles and Owners Across the Country
Material viewed by 404 Media shows data giant Thomson Reuters enriches license plate data with marriage, voter, and ownership records. The tool can predict where a car may be in the future.
www.404media.co
November 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Material viewed by 404 Media shows data giant Thomson Reuters enriches license plate data with marriage, voter, and ownership records. The tool can predict where a car may be in the future.
This language in the SAFE Act is so vague and all-encompassing that it will destroy research funding for just about every single science team in the US that does collaborative research. Which is pretty much all of them.
amendments-rules.house.gov
November 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
This language in the SAFE Act is so vague and all-encompassing that it will destroy research funding for just about every single science team in the US that does collaborative research. Which is pretty much all of them.
Welp, I'm screwed.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 16, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Welp, I'm screwed.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
Here’s a story for every national news outlet:
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
November 16, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Here’s a story for every national news outlet:
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
November 16, 2025 at 4:25 AM
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
"Former workers and local campaigners told Rest of World that most of the positions are in security and cleaning."
Microsoft, Google say their data centers create thousands of jobs. Their permit filings say otherwise
https://restofworld.org/2025/data-centers-jobs-microsoft-google-chile/?utm_campaign=row-social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1763146621
https://restofworld.org/2025/data-centers-jobs-microsoft-google-chile/?utm_campaign=row-social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1763146621
November 15, 2025 at 11:27 AM
"Former workers and local campaigners told Rest of World that most of the positions are in security and cleaning."
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
This week, I discussed whether the AI investment boom is an unsustainable bubble and how a potential crash could reshape policy and public sentiment with Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research's Ryan Cummings, AI Now Institute's Sarah West, and Blood in the Machine's Brian Merchant.
What Are the Implications if the AI Boom Turns to Bust? | TechPolicy.Press
A conversation with Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research's Ryan Cummings, AI Now Institute's Sarah West, and Blood in the Machine's Brian Merchant.
www.techpolicy.press
November 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This week, I discussed whether the AI investment boom is an unsustainable bubble and how a potential crash could reshape policy and public sentiment with Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research's Ryan Cummings, AI Now Institute's Sarah West, and Blood in the Machine's Brian Merchant.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
A major North Carolina solar power firm in Asheville has been forced to close and lay off hundreds of employees due to the Trump administration's war on renewable energy.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
November 15, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A major North Carolina solar power firm in Asheville has been forced to close and lay off hundreds of employees due to the Trump administration's war on renewable energy.
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
This is our community's letter!! It was written by Josie Morway, a local artist and parent. After we started asking questions, the district slowed way down and starting holding forums, creating workgroups, and taking student privacy more seriously. Talk to us if you want to do the same!
Love to see community action against this AI nonsense! neighborhoodview.org/2025/11/13/d...
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This is our community's letter!! It was written by Josie Morway, a local artist and parent. After we started asking questions, the district slowed way down and starting holding forums, creating workgroups, and taking student privacy more seriously. Talk to us if you want to do the same!
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
A new state-by-state evaluation of the projected energy and water use of "AI" data centers in the US. Looks… real bad. Like, "undoing tech sector climate gains" bad.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Environmental impact and net-zero pathways for sustainable artificial intelligence servers in the USA - Nature Sustainability
The rapid expansion of AI server installations in the United States poses sustainability challenges in terms of water usage and carbon emissions. A study now quantifies these potential impacts and out...
www.nature.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:06 AM
A new state-by-state evaluation of the projected energy and water use of "AI" data centers in the US. Looks… real bad. Like, "undoing tech sector climate gains" bad.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
I hate everything.
Artificial intelligence peer reviewers recommend the acceptance of unsound papers created entirely by AI more than 80% of the time, a new study has found. cen.acs.org/research-int... #chemsky 🧪
AI peer reviewers are fine with AI-fabricated papers
Study finds artificial intelligence reviewers accept AI-generated scientific studies 4 out of 5 times
cen.acs.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I hate everything.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor @joshshapiropa.bsky.social signed their state's budget into law.
That leaves North Carolina as the only state in the entire nation without an operating budget.
Our Republican legislature, unable to decide amongst themselves, just quit and went home.
That leaves North Carolina as the only state in the entire nation without an operating budget.
Our Republican legislature, unable to decide amongst themselves, just quit and went home.
November 13, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor @joshshapiropa.bsky.social signed their state's budget into law.
That leaves North Carolina as the only state in the entire nation without an operating budget.
Our Republican legislature, unable to decide amongst themselves, just quit and went home.
That leaves North Carolina as the only state in the entire nation without an operating budget.
Our Republican legislature, unable to decide amongst themselves, just quit and went home.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
we need a department of kerning
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 AM
we need a department of kerning
This is horrifying!
You Can't Refuse To Be Scanned by ICE's Facial Recognition App, DHS Document Says
Photos captured by Mobile Fortify will be stored for 15 years, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, the document says.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This is horrifying!
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
There's this form of behavioral engineering/coercion going on to use AI when you're not even trying to. Ex: Enterprise Google Slides replaced "Upload an Image", with "Generate an Image" (right?), requiring extra work +adaptation to sidestep the AI-as-default push. It drives me bonkers.
November 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
There's this form of behavioral engineering/coercion going on to use AI when you're not even trying to. Ex: Enterprise Google Slides replaced "Upload an Image", with "Generate an Image" (right?), requiring extra work +adaptation to sidestep the AI-as-default push. It drives me bonkers.
Reposted by Sarah Carmichael
The #ExecutiveFunctionTheft of having to opt out.
Feeling annoyed at the cognitive cost of having to dismiss all the offers of "AI" assitance every time I use Acrobat to provide feedback on documents my students wrote. (NO I do NOT want an "AI" summary of this. In what world???)
Decided to check settings:
Decided to check settings:
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The #ExecutiveFunctionTheft of having to opt out.
Does anyone know if the planned (?) @amtrak.com expansion to Bristol, VA is actually a real thing? I have heard it was going to happen, but I've heard that for 15 years.
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Does anyone know if the planned (?) @amtrak.com expansion to Bristol, VA is actually a real thing? I have heard it was going to happen, but I've heard that for 15 years.