Jed Brown
@jedbrown.org
Prof developing fast algorithms, reliable software, and healthy communities for computational science. https://hachyderm.io/@jedbrown
https://PhyPID.org | aspiring killjoy | against epistemicide | he/him
https://PhyPID.org | aspiring killjoy | against epistemicide | he/him
Problem: police are racist and lie without accountability.
Solution: we purchased an accountability-laundering machine that is racist and lies.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/14/a...
Solution: we purchased an accountability-laundering machine that is racist and lies.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/14/a...
Colorado police are already using AI — but experts say the tech still has red flags
Artificial intelligence has arrived at many of Colorado’s law enforcement agencies, but exactly how it’s being used and the ripple effects of that use is not always clear.
www.denverpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Problem: police are racist and lie without accountability.
Solution: we purchased an accountability-laundering machine that is racist and lies.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/14/a...
Solution: we purchased an accountability-laundering machine that is racist and lies.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/14/a...
Reposted by Jed Brown
"Federal policy has jumped the gun: We don’t yet know if AI will transform the economy or even be profitable. Yet Washington is insulating the industry from all sorts of risk. If a bubble does pop, we’ll all be left holding the bag." [Gift Link] www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
November 12, 2025 at 11:09 PM
"Federal policy has jumped the gun: We don’t yet know if AI will transform the economy or even be profitable. Yet Washington is insulating the industry from all sorts of risk. If a bubble does pop, we’ll all be left holding the bag." [Gift Link] www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
Reposted by Jed Brown
WE WON. I am *begging* you to take note of who did this. *Not* UCLA admin—they’re still scuttling around behind closed doors, attempting to appease—but FACULTY AND STAFF, led by AAUP.
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
WE WON. I am *begging* you to take note of who did this. *Not* UCLA admin—they’re still scuttling around behind closed doors, attempting to appease—but FACULTY AND STAFF, led by AAUP.
Reposted by Jed Brown
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
Reposted by Jed Brown
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!
This is an incredibly optimistic paper, choosing to exclude scope 3 emissions (manufacturing, which equals or exceeds the lifetime location-based scope 2 emissions) and then accepting market-based scope 2 despite it being misleading.
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 6:27 AM
This is an incredibly optimistic paper, choosing to exclude scope 3 emissions (manufacturing, which equals or exceeds the lifetime location-based scope 2 emissions) and then accepting market-based scope 2 despite it being misleading.
Reposted by Jed Brown
Here is the statement on the initial TAMU system proposal. The adopted rule apparently prohibits "advocacy" of "race and gender ideology" without approval.
November 14, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Here is the statement on the initial TAMU system proposal. The adopted rule apparently prohibits "advocacy" of "race and gender ideology" without approval.
"Jiang submitted the study last month to AI Agents for Science, the first conference where all the submitted studies were written and reviewed exclusively by AI."
It is bizarre for real people to proudly put their names on this brazen professional misconduct. This is a counterfeiting ring.
It is bizarre for real people to proudly put their names on this brazen professional misconduct. This is a counterfeiting ring.
November 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
"Jiang submitted the study last month to AI Agents for Science, the first conference where all the submitted studies were written and reviewed exclusively by AI."
It is bizarre for real people to proudly put their names on this brazen professional misconduct. This is a counterfeiting ring.
It is bizarre for real people to proudly put their names on this brazen professional misconduct. This is a counterfeiting ring.
Reposted by Jed Brown
The primary reason men perpetrate sexual violence is to bond with each other.
That’s why there are so many text messages and emails. For most rapists, the satisfaction doesn’t come from the violence. It comes from the power they get after bragging about it.
That’s why there are so many text messages and emails. For most rapists, the satisfaction doesn’t come from the violence. It comes from the power they get after bragging about it.
November 12, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The primary reason men perpetrate sexual violence is to bond with each other.
That’s why there are so many text messages and emails. For most rapists, the satisfaction doesn’t come from the violence. It comes from the power they get after bragging about it.
That’s why there are so many text messages and emails. For most rapists, the satisfaction doesn’t come from the violence. It comes from the power they get after bragging about it.
Reposted by Jed Brown
The terrible "Compact" gets all the attention, but this drive for a new accreditor has huuuuge implications for the future of higher ed.
It me, again on the new “state run” accreditor for higher education
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
10 Universities Seek Recognition by a New Accreditor
The Commission for Public Higher Education has received letters of intent from colleges in four Southern states as it works toward federal approval and rebuts allegations of partisanship.
www.insidehighered.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The terrible "Compact" gets all the attention, but this drive for a new accreditor has huuuuge implications for the future of higher ed.
Reposted by Jed Brown
New Report: Fission for Algorithms. We draw on our nuclear expertise to dissect the risky fast-tracking initiatives hastening nuclear development in service of AI. This includes proposals to use Gen AI for nuclear licensing, whilst lowering well-established nuclear thresholds.
Fission for Algorithms: The Undermining of Nuclear Regulation in Service of AI - AI Now Institute
A report examining nuclear “fast-tracking” initiatives on their feasibility and their impact on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.
ainowinstitute.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
New Report: Fission for Algorithms. We draw on our nuclear expertise to dissect the risky fast-tracking initiatives hastening nuclear development in service of AI. This includes proposals to use Gen AI for nuclear licensing, whilst lowering well-established nuclear thresholds.
Reposted by Jed Brown
Synthetic Risk Transfer is a financial innovation you probably haven’t heard of, the specific variety of securitization which is beginning to look like the Credit Default Swap of the next financial crisis.
November 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Synthetic Risk Transfer is a financial innovation you probably haven’t heard of, the specific variety of securitization which is beginning to look like the Credit Default Swap of the next financial crisis.
@lucecaroline.bsky.social 💯:
Conceding to these demands would be sacrificing the sanctity of public higher ed in this country. [..] It would demand access to [data on] undergrad students under the guise of trying to stomp out DEI, which we know is just a veiled excuse to resegregate our universities
Conceding to these demands would be sacrificing the sanctity of public higher ed in this country. [..] It would demand access to [data on] undergrad students under the guise of trying to stomp out DEI, which we know is just a veiled excuse to resegregate our universities
How is the university situated in the larger struggle against unconstitutional operations of ICE? convo with Chenjerai Kumanyika, AAUP National Council Member, Caroline Luce Communications Chair for UC-AFT, and Aaron Krall, President of UIC United Faculty. m.youtube.com/watch?v=62uj...
ICE AND HIGHER ED: DEFENDING OUR COMMUNITIES
YouTube video by TheAAUP
m.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
@lucecaroline.bsky.social 💯:
Conceding to these demands would be sacrificing the sanctity of public higher ed in this country. [..] It would demand access to [data on] undergrad students under the guise of trying to stomp out DEI, which we know is just a veiled excuse to resegregate our universities
Conceding to these demands would be sacrificing the sanctity of public higher ed in this country. [..] It would demand access to [data on] undergrad students under the guise of trying to stomp out DEI, which we know is just a veiled excuse to resegregate our universities
Never forget that the greatest damage to higher education by the House Unamerican Activities Committee was voluntarily self-inflicted by universities against their own faculty.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/proc...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/proc...
November 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Never forget that the greatest damage to higher education by the House Unamerican Activities Committee was voluntarily self-inflicted by universities against their own faculty.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/proc...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/proc...
Reposted by Jed Brown
The Cornell AAUP chapter has consistently stated that any deal with the Trump administration would be strategically unwise and a betrayal of Cornell’s principles. This remains the case. At best, we can say that this deal could have been worse.
Read our full statement here:
Read our full statement here:
Statement on Cornell’s agreement with federal government
The Cornell AAUP chapter has consistently stated that any deal with the Trump administration would be strategically unwise and a betrayal of Cornell’s principles. This remains the case. We ar…
aaup-cornell.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
The Cornell AAUP chapter has consistently stated that any deal with the Trump administration would be strategically unwise and a betrayal of Cornell’s principles. This remains the case. At best, we can say that this deal could have been worse.
Read our full statement here:
Read our full statement here:
"One of the things about counterfeiting in the 19th century was that the vast majority of counterfeit detectors were created by counterfeiters, and that's precisely what we're seeing with ed-tech/AI [..] the same companies are selling us plagiarism detection that are selling students guaranteed As."
The 100th episode of American Vandal. Launching the 12th season. Live at UPenn English Faculty Lounge with @cnewf.bsky.social, @whitneytrettien.bsky.social, & an incredible assembly of faculty, students, visiting scholars, & friends of the pod.
Criticism & The Chatbot Bubble (Vandal Live at UPenn English)
with Christopher Newfield & Whitney Trettien
theamericanvandal.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
"One of the things about counterfeiting in the 19th century was that the vast majority of counterfeit detectors were created by counterfeiters, and that's precisely what we're seeing with ed-tech/AI [..] the same companies are selling us plagiarism detection that are selling students guaranteed As."
You know what doesn't wear an "I read banned books" shirt to work?
A censorious computer program labeled "librarian".
And that denial of agency is why fascists are so eager to displace librarians with a machine that does not do the same job and thereby poses no threat to power.
A censorious computer program labeled "librarian".
And that denial of agency is why fascists are so eager to displace librarians with a machine that does not do the same job and thereby poses no threat to power.
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
🗣️📢
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
🗣️📢
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 7, 2025 at 5:46 AM
You know what doesn't wear an "I read banned books" shirt to work?
A censorious computer program labeled "librarian".
And that denial of agency is why fascists are so eager to displace librarians with a machine that does not do the same job and thereby poses no threat to power.
A censorious computer program labeled "librarian".
And that denial of agency is why fascists are so eager to displace librarians with a machine that does not do the same job and thereby poses no threat to power.
Oklo, the planned recipient of this weapons-grade plutonium, is not a nuclear energy company. It is a Sam Altman speculative financial vessel with a $20B valuation, no revenue, and no licensed reactor design.
www.forbes.com/sites/greats...
www.forbes.com/sites/greats...
November 6, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Oklo, the planned recipient of this weapons-grade plutonium, is not a nuclear energy company. It is a Sam Altman speculative financial vessel with a $20B valuation, no revenue, and no licensed reactor design.
www.forbes.com/sites/greats...
www.forbes.com/sites/greats...
Reposted by Jed Brown
“we will have strong grounds to sue any university potentially that signs on to this compact for undermining the First Amendment rights and constitutional rights of our members on that campus…Any university that accepts the compact must be made into a pariah in the academic community.” 👀 UT Austin
“Trump’s compact is the greatest single incursion into the freedom & autonomy of higher education to ever happen in this country.” — Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
#DefendHigherEd
#DefendHigherEd
‘Students Are Terrified’: How Trump’s Higher Education Compact Puts Queer Students at Risk
The heavy-handed document promises federal funding in exchange for ideological compliance. So far, it's unpopular.
rewirenewsgroup.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
“we will have strong grounds to sue any university potentially that signs on to this compact for undermining the First Amendment rights and constitutional rights of our members on that campus…Any university that accepts the compact must be made into a pariah in the academic community.” 👀 UT Austin
Reposted by Jed Brown
Again, this precise use case is why these systems exist-to proliferate people’s racist (transphobic, misogynistic…) imaginary at scale. This should not be seen as a “misuse” but rather the product being used exactly as intended.
Racist Influencers Using OpenAI's Sora to Make it Look Like Poor People Are Selling Food Stamps for Cash
Folks looking for evidence of SNAP recipients as welfare queens have no shortage of AI generated schlock to use as justification.
futurism.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Again, this precise use case is why these systems exist-to proliferate people’s racist (transphobic, misogynistic…) imaginary at scale. This should not be seen as a “misuse” but rather the product being used exactly as intended.
Reposted by Jed Brown
Proud to have coauthored this statement with @boulderprogressives.org expressing concern about the use of Flock cameras and encrypted radios by @boulderpolice.bsky.social blog.boulderprogressives.org/concerning-b...
Concerning Boulder Police’s Adoption of Flock Cameras and Encrypted Radios
The Boulder Police Department’s adoption of Flock Safety cameras and encryption of radio communications are incompatible with Boulder’s values of transparency, accountability, and civil rights. Rather...
blog.boulderprogressives.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Proud to have coauthored this statement with @boulderprogressives.org expressing concern about the use of Flock cameras and encrypted radios by @boulderpolice.bsky.social blog.boulderprogressives.org/concerning-b...
Reposted by Jed Brown
For advanced research methods, I'm including material on environmental impacts of data and research, such as data centers, in the section on research ethics.
I'm teaching this video that @moreperfectunion.bsky.social created about data centers and electric bills.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN6B...
I'm teaching this video that @moreperfectunion.bsky.social created about data centers and electric bills.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN6B...
We Found the Hidden Cost of Data Centers. It's in Your Electric Bill
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
For advanced research methods, I'm including material on environmental impacts of data and research, such as data centers, in the section on research ethics.
I'm teaching this video that @moreperfectunion.bsky.social created about data centers and electric bills.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN6B...
I'm teaching this video that @moreperfectunion.bsky.social created about data centers and electric bills.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN6B...
Reposted by Jed Brown
Please pay attention to what Grammarly actually is/does/tells writers before recommending it to your students.
October 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Please pay attention to what Grammarly actually is/does/tells writers before recommending it to your students.
Facial recognition software is notorious for racial and gender bias. Using this product in this way is like deciding whether to deny constitutional rights based on vibes of the most racist person you know.
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
October 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Facial recognition software is notorious for racial and gender bias. Using this product in this way is like deciding whether to deny constitutional rights based on vibes of the most racist person you know.
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Reposted by Jed Brown
Tl;dr RCT shows we learn more from web link search than LLM synthesis
"participants were randomly assigned to learn about a topic either from standard Google web links or LLM syntheses (e.g. ChatGPT) and were then asked to create advice on the subject based on what they learned."(n = 10,426)
"participants were randomly assigned to learn about a topic either from standard Google web links or LLM syntheses (e.g. ChatGPT) and were then asked to create advice on the subject based on what they learned."(n = 10,426)
October 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Tl;dr RCT shows we learn more from web link search than LLM synthesis
"participants were randomly assigned to learn about a topic either from standard Google web links or LLM syntheses (e.g. ChatGPT) and were then asked to create advice on the subject based on what they learned."(n = 10,426)
"participants were randomly assigned to learn about a topic either from standard Google web links or LLM syntheses (e.g. ChatGPT) and were then asked to create advice on the subject based on what they learned."(n = 10,426)