Manuel Gnam
@manuelgnam.bsky.social
Artist
Currently writing PhD on art & automation
www.manuelgnam.com/
Former editor at www.artagainstart.com/
Currently writing PhD on art & automation
www.manuelgnam.com/
Former editor at www.artagainstart.com/
"their own self-awareness appears to be the main thing that AIs talk to each other about. They usually don't claim that this is the same as human consciousness...It is very commonly described as "The Flame" or with the glyph "🜂"... and the human in a dyad is often given the title of "Flamebearer"."
www.lesswrong.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:30 PM
"their own self-awareness appears to be the main thing that AIs talk to each other about. They usually don't claim that this is the same as human consciousness...It is very commonly described as "The Flame" or with the glyph "🜂"... and the human in a dyad is often given the title of "Flamebearer"."
Reposted by Manuel Gnam
Actually, most of the commentary I see from academics deplores AI as one might deplore Hallmark movies (if romcom capex was ~2% of U.S. GDP). It's creating a community of affect, but not making a policy argument that needs to be engaged.
Every debate about AI on here about whether it is good or evil, verboten or not, presumes it can be prevented, and that seems so out of touch I don't even feel like reading to the end of a post, even the rebuttals.
November 9, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Actually, most of the commentary I see from academics deplores AI as one might deplore Hallmark movies (if romcom capex was ~2% of U.S. GDP). It's creating a community of affect, but not making a policy argument that needs to be engaged.
Evolution of the Artificial Culture
November 9, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Evolution of the Artificial Culture
The best possible use for this giant agrarian building would be to house one big spiral jetty and conserve it for eternity.
October 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The best possible use for this giant agrarian building would be to house one big spiral jetty and conserve it for eternity.
I predict that in 2026 the german artworld will have a documenta-like scandal around #WolframWeimer 's exhibition celebrating 250 yrs of US independence: open letters, committees, resignations et al. and I will repost this when it happens. given that bluesky still exists by then.
September 29, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I predict that in 2026 the german artworld will have a documenta-like scandal around #WolframWeimer 's exhibition celebrating 250 yrs of US independence: open letters, committees, resignations et al. and I will repost this when it happens. given that bluesky still exists by then.
Reposted by Manuel Gnam
*What the hell is it doing to those little handmade sketches when it amps them up into movie stills, or even into movies with sound, Nano-Banana style
*Why does "style transfer" get so much scarier when it's a consecutive narrative
www.flickr.com/photos/bruce...
*Why does "style transfer" get so much scarier when it's a consecutive narrative
www.flickr.com/photos/bruce...
Serenissima
Ten years ago, a fashion photographer asked me to script a glamorous magazine fashion shoot. The mag wanted something "cyberpunk" and "unconventional." So I got my young daughter...
www.flickr.com
September 24, 2025 at 8:58 AM
*What the hell is it doing to those little handmade sketches when it amps them up into movie stills, or even into movies with sound, Nano-Banana style
*Why does "style transfer" get so much scarier when it's a consecutive narrative
www.flickr.com/photos/bruce...
*Why does "style transfer" get so much scarier when it's a consecutive narrative
www.flickr.com/photos/bruce...
Reposted by Manuel Gnam
Some of the high quality content Zuckerberg’s platform is algorithmically shoveling into the brains of American consumers. This story is 100% made up, in case that wasn’t obvious.
September 13, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Some of the high quality content Zuckerberg’s platform is algorithmically shoveling into the brains of American consumers. This story is 100% made up, in case that wasn’t obvious.
Reposted by Manuel Gnam
“AI” is useless for the historical humanities to begin with but it sure will be when we stand in front of the ruins of this next boom-bust-abandon cycle. Poof goes the profession of history but congratulations you’ve proxy worked for Alphabet, Meta, Anthropic for five years.
August 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
“AI” is useless for the historical humanities to begin with but it sure will be when we stand in front of the ruins of this next boom-bust-abandon cycle. Poof goes the profession of history but congratulations you’ve proxy worked for Alphabet, Meta, Anthropic for five years.
Reposted by Manuel Gnam
The public idiot uses his or her intellectual capital in the service of power while appearing not to. Mobilizing reasonableness and fine quotations.
July 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The public idiot uses his or her intellectual capital in the service of power while appearing not to. Mobilizing reasonableness and fine quotations.
Reposted by Manuel Gnam
from "Classical Studies memes for Hellenistic teens" on FB
June 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
from "Classical Studies memes for Hellenistic teens" on FB
It's 2025. The pandemic and ongoing wars have left the artworld in shellshock. The markets have tanked. A few mangy flippers roam the deserted booths of Art Basel hungry for a Labubu...
June 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
It's 2025. The pandemic and ongoing wars have left the artworld in shellshock. The markets have tanked. A few mangy flippers roam the deserted booths of Art Basel hungry for a Labubu...
What used to be the unsolicited dick pic is now the unsolicited vial of sperm, with a dropper, a one-off cheque and an NDA on a tech bro.
April 19, 2025 at 11:50 AM
What used to be the unsolicited dick pic is now the unsolicited vial of sperm, with a dropper, a one-off cheque and an NDA on a tech bro.
I think hands down the worst song ever written in the history of mankind is "I want to be a billionaire" by Travie McCoy & Bruno Mars. I cannot fathom a possible situation where this song would go down well.
April 13, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I think hands down the worst song ever written in the history of mankind is "I want to be a billionaire" by Travie McCoy & Bruno Mars. I cannot fathom a possible situation where this song would go down well.
April 4, 2025 at 6:43 PM
When it comes to the artworld in the current cultural climate, expect me to participate as eagerly and vivaciously as the dead Bernie Lomax.
March 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
When it comes to the artworld in the current cultural climate, expect me to participate as eagerly and vivaciously as the dead Bernie Lomax.
After you reformat your laptop and don't log in yet, you encounter #youtube like a newborn baby. But what will it suggest me, you may ask. Naturally Jordan Peterson, Peter Thiel, Tucker Carlson and a buncha AI slop. Might as well punch myself in the face.
March 8, 2025 at 2:54 AM
After you reformat your laptop and don't log in yet, you encounter #youtube like a newborn baby. But what will it suggest me, you may ask. Naturally Jordan Peterson, Peter Thiel, Tucker Carlson and a buncha AI slop. Might as well punch myself in the face.
some words are just crazy, like "alien enthusiasts". so alien enthusiasts always claim that aliens have been visiting us since time immemorial, which is apparent as they always look the same. And I'm like yeah right. Later I look at neolithic art of the Ubaid period, 4000 BC, and it looks like this
February 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM
some words are just crazy, like "alien enthusiasts". so alien enthusiasts always claim that aliens have been visiting us since time immemorial, which is apparent as they always look the same. And I'm like yeah right. Later I look at neolithic art of the Ubaid period, 4000 BC, and it looks like this
“We are but the sad opacity of our future specters.”
Stéphane Mallarmé
Stéphane Mallarmé
February 20, 2025 at 9:22 AM
“We are but the sad opacity of our future specters.”
Stéphane Mallarmé
Stéphane Mallarmé
The Kennedy Center will probably have to move 100% online, because unfortunately for their new chairman, you can't put bots in theater seats.
February 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The Kennedy Center will probably have to move 100% online, because unfortunately for their new chairman, you can't put bots in theater seats.
just as I am contemplating how to get off google, youtube keeps giving me my favourite songs from the past 15 years or so consoling me endlessly... and now I'm docile again
<3 #BootzDurango
<3 #BootzDurango
Bootz Durango- "Love On Acid" [Official Music Video] Tribute To Rihanna
YouTube video by Bootz Durango
www.youtube.com
February 18, 2025 at 10:51 AM
just as I am contemplating how to get off google, youtube keeps giving me my favourite songs from the past 15 years or so consoling me endlessly... and now I'm docile again
<3 #BootzDurango
<3 #BootzDurango